NH Gleans

 

NH Gleans is a statewide network of organizations working to increase the availability of fresh and local produce distributed through food pantries, soup kitchens, community suppers and schools, and the NH Food Bank. Gleaning Coordinators and volunteers harvest unsold food from farms and farmers markets and donate them to organizations that supply food to community members in need. NOFA-NH was part of the NH Gleans network from 2013–2020. 

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What is food insecurity?

Food insecurity is defined by the USDA as the “lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all members of a given household, and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.”

 

What's the rate of food insecurity in NH?

In New Hampshire, 10% of the population – 1 in 10 – is food insecure, and 11% of children are living in food-insecure environments (NH Food Bank, 2017). NH DOE reported that 26% of school-age children were eligible for free/reduced lunch during the 2017-2018 school year.

 

How NH Gleans Makes a Difference

Gleaning provides food insecure individuals and families with local, farm fresh food that would otherwise be wasted. It helps farmers by harvesting crops that have either gone unsold or for another reason will not make it to market – for free. It helps the environment by diverting food waste from the compost or landfill, and it helps the economy by circulating critical resources.

 

NOFA-NH’s Gleaning Coordinators contributed over 55,620 pounds to the effort from 2013–2020.

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Read our article on NH Gleans to learn more about how this program impacts farmers, food providers and low income residents.

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Further Reading

• 2017 NH Gleans Annual Report

• UNH Extension Partner Spolight: NH Gleans