Garland Cited in BDN Article Looking at Hunger Relief Groups in Maine
Kate Garland, a horticulturist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension program, was quoted in a Bangor Daily News article focused on various hunger relief programs happening across the state of Maine. “Farmers don’t have time to donate their extra produce, during market. It’s that time of year when they don’t have a spare moment,” said Garland. “But it really blew me away that first year to see how generous everyone was and how eager they were to see that the food was going to a good place where folks need it.”
Every week, volunteers visit Bangor-area markets to ask for donations, as part of an aftermarket gleaning program — which is the practice of collecting extra produce after the main harvest or market is over. Farmer’s markets donate extra products to organizations such as Crossroads Ministry in Old Town, which then distributes them to residents in the area.
“This is top-quality food, this is not seconds — although seconds are good too — but this is the stuff your or I’d be getting from the market, good stuff, breads, cheeses and meats,” said Garland.