Gleaning
Frequently Asked Questions
From where and how frequently does Sunshine Community Harvest glean?
In recent years, Sunshine community Harvest organizes volunteers to harvest excess produce from local farms such as Blumenberry Farms, Ananda Farm, and Enza Zaden Research.
Currently, volunteer opportunities to glean in the field are concentrated in May to June and November to December. Fruit Rescue (household fruit tree gleaning) typically occurs May to August.
Often, new harvest opportunities arise and we need help on short notice to divert the produce to a local food bank. All requests for volunteer help are distributed through our email list, so be sure to sign up to stay connected. You must RSVP for gleaning. This increased communication will ensure that all participants are able to stay safe while maximizing their impact.
Where does the gleaned produce go?
Produce harvested by our volunteers is donated to many local pantires, but large harvests generally go to All Faiths Food Bank, The Food Bank of Manatee, or One More Child depending on the gleaning location.
I’m an area farm interested in getting involved with the Suncoast Gleaning Project. What do I do?
Sunshine Community Harvest is always interested in expanding our partnerships with local producers to build a more resilient and local food economy! Contact us today to start the conversation.
What does a day of gleaning entail as a volunteer?
Children, seniors, and every age in between gather in the fields of the designated farm to glean the harvest together — no prior experience is necessary! Volunteers sign up ahead of time and upon arrival to the farm, are given a detailed brief on how to properly glean the fresh produce that is available for harvest.
Beyond providing fresh, local fruits and vegetables to the food insecure, an additional benefit for volunteer gleaners is getting to take home a shopping bag full of fresh produce for themselves.
Standard farming safety precautions are practiced during gleaning. Closed toed shoes are required for participation, and ample sun protection and hydration is highly recommended. Bring your own, clean gardening gloves or borrow a pair of ours! Please note, there is a liability waiver for all gleaners to sign annually.