Kitsap Harvest gleans produce from around Kitsap County and distributes it directly to community members facing hunger and food insecurity with the help of its volunteers. We are combating hunger and food waste by picking fruit trees, collecting produce donations from home gardeners and community gardens and delivering the food directly to partnering organizations including senior centers, recovery centers and homeless youth and veteran services.
The Grow-A-Row program from Kitsap Harvest invigorates home gardeners to grow and donate their excess produce. Throughout Kitsap County we have volunteers hosting donation stations including sites at Bremerton Community Farmers Market, Port Orchard Farmers Market and Kitsap Community Food Co-op. Gardeners are encouraged to bring their produce donations to the drop off site near them, volunteers will come and collect, and local produce will be distributed to community members in need.
Here are some of our Produce Donation Food Safety best practices to keep in mind when donating your garden goodies. To see more, visit our website under programs and Grow-A-Row.
Wash your hands before and after handling produce
Rinse produce with clean, potable water. You do not need to use soap or sanitizer, but with larger items like melons you can use a vegetable scrub brush to remove any dirt.
Do not make additional cuts to the produce beyond the one to remove it from the garden.
Keep produce cool until transporting.
If you would like to know how you can get involved, sign up as a volunteer on our website! You will be notified of different opportunities including sorting food for delivery, helping at community gardens, delivering food to our partnering organizations and more! Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date on all things Kitsap Harvest! Email info@kitsapharvest.org for questions. Grow-A-Row page/map http://kitsapharvest.org/growarow.php Volunteer Sign up http://kitsapharvest.org/volunteer.php Newsletter Sign up/Event Calendar http://kitsapharvest.org/index.php