Share Your Harvest

You can share your garden harvest with your neighbors in northern New York State.

Each year the food pantries in our area distribute nearly 800,000 meals to seniors, adults, and children who need food assistance. To do this, food pantries have traditionally relied on surplus canned goods. But these days nutritionists are encouraging food pantries to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to their clients.

This summer a food pantry near you would welcome a donation of home-grown fruits or vegetables from your garden. The pantries will distribute your donation through their regular food assistance programs.

The guidelines for donating garden food are simple:

•  All donations must be fresh and undamaged homegrown fruits or vegetables. Do not donate what you yourself would not enjoy eating.

•  You must deliver your donation to a food pantry during its designated times for accepting GardenShare food. Most of the food pantries do not have facilities for long-term storage.

To find your local food pantry, click here.