Gleaning partnership expands access to farm-fresh food for families in need

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Northern Light Mayo Hospital and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension are working together to improve access to fresh, local produce through gleaning, the art of recovering leftover food from local farm fields and farmers markets and redirecting it back to our community.

The organizations founded the Highland Area Gleaners program this summer to collect produce that might have been missed in the field or that hasn’t been sold at the farm stand. The rescued produce is delivered to community organizations to help those in need.

The group recently organized its first large gleaning opportunity: harvesting 460 pounds of potatoes from the University of Maine’s Rogers Farm in Old Town. The food was delivered to the Piscataquis Regional Food Center, the Christine B. Foundation, the UCC Sangerville Food Pantry, the SeDoMoCha Kitchen, and the CubHouse Daycare to be distributed to children and community members in Piscataquis County.

“Providing healthy, nutritionally balanced food in the school sets our students up for success,” says Heather Whitten, food service manager at the SeDoMoCha School. “Gleaning supports food sustainability in our community while reducing excess food waste. It’s something that everyone can feel good about.”

Highland Area Gleaners has participated in smaller harvests in Piscataquis County, and the group wants to expand its local gleaning partnerships in 2024. Organizers also want to connect with volunteers who would like to become involved with gleaning produce. To learn more about volunteering, please contact Laurie Bowen, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, at laurie.bowen@maine.edu or Kate Fergola, Mayo Hospital, at kefergola@northernlight.org.