Second Harvest plans gleaning project

Second Harvest, a local nonprofit food distribution center, is gearing up to host a similar but unrelated produce collection effort in the area for the next couple months.

The organization will work with local farmers, gardeners and residential fruit tree owners to gather fresh, edible produce that goes unsold. Perhaps it’s a batch of asymmetrical onions or deformed carrots that simply didn’t find a place on a store shelf for their appearance, said Keith Burgeson, a harvest coordinator with the Spokane location.

“It’s still perfectly nutritious,” Burgeson said.

The project is called Second Harvest Gleaning. The undertaking relies heavily upon volunteers. It was a hit last year, Burgeson said, and he hopes to gather even more produce this time.

“We had 13 gleans last year,” he said. “(It) brought in about 60,000 pounds.”

Burgeson plans to host a gleaners meeting at 6 p.m. July 11, at Second Harvest, 1234 E. Front Ave., where he will discuss procedures for both farm gleaning and other similar produce donation projects with anyone who wants to get involved.

Justin Runquist