The Boston Area Gleaners Duck Caldwell, MBA, BA, Executive Director Kaveri Roy, DNP, CHPN, Treasurer, Board of Directors

Objectives Define the concept of gleaning Explain the role of surplus in current farming methods Discuss need to utilize surplus to feed food insecure populations. Describe the facets of organized gleaning. Identify core characteristics needed in forming a gleaning effort Discuss implications of gleaning in food relief and in public health legislation

Presenter Disclosures The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: Kaveri M. Roy No Relationships to Disclose

Gleaning: A Revived Method for Capturing Modern Agricultural Surplus Woman Gleaning Dropped Grain During Harvest depicted in Tomb of Ramose, Thebes, Egypt, 1400 B.C.

20% of Americans represents over 48 million people. In Massachusetts (2014), there are over 767,550 food insecure individuals

Total Vegetable and Fruit Production Fruit: 57.2 billion pounds, $18.2 billion Vegetables: 43.1 billion pounds, $10.7 billion Total Value: $28.3 billion This was generated with only 2% of all US harvested acreage

One-quarter of this loss would feed 43 million people three meals per day. US Food Waste – 40-50% of Total Produced

Setting Up a New Supply Chain- Food Shed, Organizational, and Financial Considerations for Gleaning Programs

What’s Your Food Shed? Tailor Gleaning Program to fit!

Determine Recipient Need What’s the gap? Is there refrigeration? What’s the delivery schedule? Knowing these will determine your gleaning goals per trip. (Do NOT over-glean!) 1)Determine Demand: Agency Interest Total Agencies Total Need Delivery Frequency Storage Capacity

2) Determine Supply: Number of Farms Proximity Farmer Interest Produce Varieties Potential Yields

Types of Gleaning Organization Non profit 501(c)3 Volunteer Faith-Based Other (Associated effort with food bank, community kitchen, other non-profit)

COSTS Avg mileage for gleaning + 1 delivery 60 mi x.55/mi (fed rate) = $33 Staff time for organizing, gleaning, + 1 delivery, follow-through (stats, volunteers, FB) 8 $16.00/hr + payroll expenses = $ Pro-rated insurances (WC, Liability, Auto) $50 per each trip (52 sponsored trips last year) Total for one trip = $230 COSTS Average mileage: Gleaning + 1 delivery Staff time: Organizing, gleaning, + 1 delivery, follow-through (stats, volunteers, FB) + payroll expenses Vehicle expenses Storage expenses Insurance Pro-rated insurances (Workers’ Comp, Liability, Auto)

Boston Area Gleaners 501(c)3 Started in 2004 as volunteer organization January-December Farms 60 Varieties of Produce 177,003 Pounds = 708,000 4-oz. Servings $162, 875 Total Retail Value of Donated Produce

Boston Area Gleaners now serves 40 farms Reaches over 500+ relief agencies Has over 1000 gleaning volunteers. BUT… There are over 1000 small produce farms in eastern Massachusetts Capable of providing 5 million pounds of produce annually Able to feed 350,000 people in need.

Federal Legislation America Gives More/Good Samaritan Tax Incentive Act (H.R. 644) would have allowed farmers to write off a percentage of their food donations as well as cost of production. This would provide about 100 million meals/year according to Bob Aiken, CEO, Feeding America. The bill passed the House 239 to 179 in early However, the language of the bill was changed in the Senate and the “America Gives More Act” was dropped from the bill.

States with Charitable Tax Incentives for Farmers to Donate Crops Oregon Arizona Iowa Colorado California Washington

What Can You Do? Organize or become part of a local gleaning effort. Disseminate information about your efforts so that others can start their own gleaning efforts. Ask your legislators to visit a food bank. Tweet, Facebook, Instagram or call your legislators about reintroducing a bill to provide tax incentives for farmers for charitable crop donations. Spread the word!

Thank you! For more information or for consultation, please contact: The Boston Area Gleaners

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