The Hillsborough County Gleaners, part of the NH Gleans network, rescue excess farm produce that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it to food pantries, senior housing, soup kitchens, schools and others community groups across southern New Hampshire. They work with about 11 farms and serve around 6,000 families a week. Families like those at Brooksdale Farm donate produce that’s a surplus or cosmetically imperfect. This year the farm contributed about 160,000 pounds of food rather than letting it go to compost. Volunteers collect, sort, and deliver the produce. Recipients often express how much it means to get fresh fruits and vegetables, which are highly requested but harder to keep stocked at food pantries. New Hampshire’s food insecurity rates have risen since the pandemic, reaching levels not seen in several years, driven in part by cuts to federal aid and high living costs. Advocates say gleaning not only fights hunger but also reduces food waste and can benefit the environment. However, they note that more formal support, such as refrigerated vehicles, storage, and food-safety resources, would be needed for these efforts to expand further.

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