Salinas, CA – This past Saturday, Ag Against Hunger held their final volunteer gleaning session for the 2010 season. Over 150 volunteers gleaned 2,300 pounds of strawberries, a commodity that has never been gleaned by Ag Against Hunger before. Red Blossom Farms donated the strawberry field. “Red Blossom is honored to help Ag Against Hunger and their mission to alleviate hunger locally and afar. We are grateful there is an organization such as Ag Against Hunger making a profound difference in our community, and excited our contribution will help nourish the lives of those in need.” Michelle Deleissegues – Marketing Director for Red Blossom Farms.
Many of the gleaning volunteers came from various local groups such as: Girls Inc. of the Central Coast, Palma High School, St. Francis High School, Santa Catalina High School, San Benito 4H, Living Hope Church of Nazarene, and Girl Scout Troup 33072.
After the glean, Ag Against Hunger held a barbecue sponsored by NH3 Service Company at Spreckels Memorial Park as a thank you to all of the volunteers for their hard work this season. Central Coast Young Farmers and Ranchers provided the barbecue. Congressman Sam Farr, D-Carmel, made a special appearance to thank all of the volunteers for their efforts to help feed the hungry in the local area.
Ag Against Hunger’s gleaning program, which runs from May through November, is a program which gives local community members an opportunity to help feed those in need and learn about local agriculture. After harvest, there is an abundance of high-quality, marketable produce left in the field. In 2010, Ag Against Hunger volunteer gleaners have prevented over 124,000 pounds of produce from being tilled back into the soil. This fresh produce went to the Food Bank for Monterey County, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, California Grey Bears, and the Community Food Bank of San Benito County. These four food banks have provided the gleaned produce to over 158,000 people in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.
Source: Red Blossom Sales Inc.