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We thank you for your interest in all the amazing things that gleaning brings to our community.
We are excited to step into 2023 as a part of the local food justice eco-system and we would love you to join us!
ForestR Gleaning
What Is It?
Gleaning is the practice of harvesting excess crops and donating them to food resource partners all throughout our community.
If you would like us to harvest your fruit and deliver it to a food bank, click the button below and tell us about your garden:
28,446 + POUNDS TOTAL!
17,400 + lbs in 2022!

Testimonials
Goals
Prevent food waste in Castro Valley and vicinity, while providing access to fresh produce to our neighbors in need.
Promote healthy and happy lifestyle, by getting outside and spending time with nature, meeting community members, and participating in a good cause.
Establish a database of at least 100 fruit tree owners willing to donate extra fruit, train 4 gleaning leads, and increase the number of gleaning volunteers to 50, so that we can harvest 2-3 times per week year-round and donate at least 10,000 lbs of fruit per year.
How does it work?

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We find people in Castro Valley and vicinity who are willing to donate their overabundance of fruit (and some veggies).
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We arrange a time that works for both parties and harvest as much as the fruit donors want us to. Sometimes the tree owners prefer to harvest their fruit themselves and we simply pick up and deliver to a food bank, or connect them directly with the food bank.
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When we harvest, we respect the owners and their property. Our motto is to leave the place better than we found it.
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We sort the fruit based on quality. Intact fruit is donated to local food pantries and shelters. Some fruit is taken directly to our homeless friends who help us clean the land. Damaged but salvageable fruit is given to several people who are willing to process it immediately and often share the products they make with members of their communities, thus spreading the love in addition to further reducing food waste.
Food Banks currently receiving our harvests
