Farm leftovers to feed 5,000 in Portland, media report
The Portland Press Herald and Associated Press reported a coalition of hunger advocates in southern Maine, including the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, plan to serve thousands of bowls of free stew made from the state’s leftover harvest. According to the Press Herald, an estimated 2,500 bowls will be dished out during Feeding the 5,000, on Oct. 7 in Portland’s Monument Square. Produce is often left behind in fields because mechanical harvesters cannot pick up every single fruit or vegetable, the article states. The event aims to get fresh produce to the people who need it most instead of letting it go to waste. Event organizers hope to educate the public about food waste and create a structure for future gleaning efforts, according to the reports. Sun Journal carried the AP report.