by Colleen Lynch

Local gardeners who have abundant harvests should know that there are many creative ways to share their bounty. Regardless of whether you’re just tired of making endless loaves of zucchini bread or you would like to share your produce fortune with a fellow community member, consider donating to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Many food banks are striving to provide more fresh food to their clients and Alameda County is no exception. Between 2005 and 2009, they increased their distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables from 1.2 million pounds to 7.6 million pounds annually. You can help to further increase these numbers by giving your own fresh produce through a donation to the food bank.

The Alameda County Food Bank is registered with Ample Harvest.org, a newly formed, national organization that is hoping to connect enthusiastic gardeners across the country with their local food pantries. The goal is to increase the offerings of fresh produce to those needing food assistance, while also reducing waste of unwanted produce. AmpleHarvest.org allows emergency food providers to register for a free listing on their website. Here, gardeners can search for feeding programs that will accept their donations of extra fruits and vegetables.

The Food Bank gladly accepts donations from backyard gardens. Food Resource Manager, Glenn Ruley, explains that local gardeners are welcome to bring in their own freshly picked, boxed or bagged produce. They often see seasonal fruit as well as zucchini and winter squash come in from area donors. The Food Bank serves more than 275 agencies throughout the county, many of which are based in Oakland. Clients from all of these programs could benefit from additional fresh produce distributed by the Food Bank. For more details on how to donate your own garden-fresh food, contact Glenn Ruley, Food Resource Manager, Alameda County Community Food Bank, at 510-635-3663 ext. 326.