Donate Your Vegetables
Contact the food pantry of your choice to confirm current donation hours.
Q/A
Which vegetables do food pantries prefer?
Most food pantries will accept any type of garden produce. There are some that have some things they prefer. If you click on a marker in the map above you will see that some food pantries do have notes indicating their preferences.
How much or how little can we donate?
First, every little bit counts. Many gardeners do not donate because they feel like its too little. This is nonsense. You can donate as much or as little as you like. There are a few food pantries that prefer either smaller quantities and a few that prefer large consistent quantities. If you click on a marker in the map above you will see that some food pantries do have notes indicating their preferences.
What vegetables are used most often?
The vegetables that you see in grocery stores are typically more popular. Don't let this stop you from donating eggplant or beets. If you feel lead, create recipe cards on how to incorporate less known vegetables into existing pre-made meals found at food pantries. This is the most efficient way to add healthy food to the diet. Most food pantries do not have oils, butters, salts, peppers, or other herbs and spices making it hard to make a good meal from scratch.
What other food related items can be donated?
Spices, herbs, oils, butter, and other cooking ingredients. Many food pantries do not carry these things in bulk quantities.
A Note on Tomatoes
To put it bluntly, people grow too many tomatoes. Not only does this create the potential for greater disease related issues in the garden over time, but this means that also there is a glutton of tomatoes in the food pantry. Consider removing one of your tomato plants and replacing with cucumber, zucchini, or beans.
Most food pantries will accept any type of garden produce. There are some that have some things they prefer. If you click on a marker in the map above you will see that some food pantries do have notes indicating their preferences.
How much or how little can we donate?
First, every little bit counts. Many gardeners do not donate because they feel like its too little. This is nonsense. You can donate as much or as little as you like. There are a few food pantries that prefer either smaller quantities and a few that prefer large consistent quantities. If you click on a marker in the map above you will see that some food pantries do have notes indicating their preferences.
What vegetables are used most often?
The vegetables that you see in grocery stores are typically more popular. Don't let this stop you from donating eggplant or beets. If you feel lead, create recipe cards on how to incorporate less known vegetables into existing pre-made meals found at food pantries. This is the most efficient way to add healthy food to the diet. Most food pantries do not have oils, butters, salts, peppers, or other herbs and spices making it hard to make a good meal from scratch.
What other food related items can be donated?
Spices, herbs, oils, butter, and other cooking ingredients. Many food pantries do not carry these things in bulk quantities.
A Note on Tomatoes
To put it bluntly, people grow too many tomatoes. Not only does this create the potential for greater disease related issues in the garden over time, but this means that also there is a glutton of tomatoes in the food pantry. Consider removing one of your tomato plants and replacing with cucumber, zucchini, or beans.