This guide includes national and state laws and regulations pertaining to gleaning and food donation, a comprehensive guide to gleaning and food recovery organizations by U.S. region, and additional resources on a variety of issues.
Introduction
Through preliminary research and interviews, the National Gleaning Project learned that there is a need for a national network to connect the organizations and individuals engaged in gleaning and food recovery across the United States. These organizations vary in size, structure, mission, etc. and may engage solely in gleaning or glean as part of a larger food recovery program. The Project developed this resource for individuals and organizations involved in agricultural gleaning and food recovery to provide a clearinghouse for gleaning and food recovery related information.
The purpose of this guide is to provide an information resource to enable the above-mentioned end users to research the laws pertaining to gleaning and food recovery, explore the work of other similar organizations, and connect with those organizations to consider opportunities for collaboration at the local, state, regional and national levels. Consequently, this guide includes national and state laws and regulations pertaining to gleaning and food donation, a comprehensive guide to gleaning and food recovery organizations by U.S. region, and additional resources on a variety of issues associated with gleaning and food recovery practices. This guide is the first of several broadly disseminated products the Project will develop part of its partnership with the National Agriculture Library.
Some of the organizations listed in this guide engage only in fresh or non-perishable food recovery from grocery chains, wholesale retailers, and other food industry members, but the Project hopes that by including listings of organizations engaged in non-gleaning fresh food recovery, farmers and other food donors will see opportunities to connect and advance gleaning as a pivotal means of food recovery.
Acknowledgments
This resource guide was made possible through the contributions of many individuals. The authors would especially like to thank Laurie Ristino, Director of the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems for her oversight and guidance, and our partner, the National Agricultural Library, of the Agricultural Research Service. Finally, this PDF and the accompanying website would not have been possible without the tireless work of Lori Dubreuil at Vermont Law School.
The authors would also like to express their deepest respect and gratitude for the national and regional organizations referenced in this guide. Without you, this resource would not be necessary or possible. We thank you for your work and dedication to help address the pressing issue of food insecurity by connecting farmers, communities, and businesses with individuals in need, and for your role in developing stronger local food systems.
Finally, the authors wish to thank Theresa Snow, of Salvation Farms, for many of the images in the guide that help to bring these operations to life.
Suggested Citation
The National Gleaning Project: Guide to the Online Gleaning Resources Hub, Vt. L. & Grad. Sch. Ctr. for Agric. and Food Sys., https://nationalgleaningproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/NGP-online-gleaning-resources-hub.pdf (last visited June 1, 2024).
