Fresh organic produce from local farms is reaching local families in need thanks to a new program based at .
Lisa Harper and Sno-Valley Harvest, a program based at Hopelink, have organized the harvesting, collection and distribution of more than 6,507 pounds of organic produce to local food banks, according to an article produced by Bastyr University in Kenmore.
The food would otherwise go to waste, because they are too large for consumers to buy or they can't be picked in time to be sold at local markets, according to the farmers involved in the program.
Harper organizes about 70 volunteers to harvest and recruitment is always ongoing, according to the article.
Hopelink, the Redmond-based service agency that offers an array of services to local families in need, has offices throughout the Eastside.
“We always have a lot of extra produce, but we don’t have time to harvest it,” says Siri Erickson-Brown, who owns Local Roots Farm in Carnation with her husband, Jason Salvo. “This is really a great program.”
On the morning of Aug. 9, Harper organized a small group of volunteers to harvest some of Local Roots’ extra produce, which is also known as “gleaning.” Harper and Salvo showed volunteers which stalks of lacinato kale they should pick to allow the plant to continue producing, and they also picked out the turnips that were too large for selling at farmers markets.
Read the rest of the story here: Bastyr Alumna Connects Area Farms with Local Food Banks
