Mt. Olive Care Center accepts donated garden produce

 

When home gardens are bursting with an overabundance of fresh produce, growers start looking for ways to share their bounty. Backyard gardeners can help feed their community by donating fruits and vegetables to local food pantries.

Mt. Olive Care Center at 109 East Second North Street in Mt. Olive is a local pantry that accepts these donations. Check with them to see how to donate and if your garden goods qualify for donating.

"Donating garden crops starts with connecting with a local food pantry," says Staci Coussens, University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed educator. "Donors can find a list of pantries that will accept produce at ampleharvest.org."

The pantry's listing will show what produce is accepted and pantry distribution times. Contact information for the pantry manager is provided so donors can find out what the preferred drop-off time is.

The pantry manager can also advise on what produce is best to donate and what their pantry users like, says Coussens. Preference varies across the state, but the most popular fresh produce items at pantries are greens, peppers, and tomatoes.

If the pantry does not have a refrigerator, only produce that is safe to store at room temperature, such as potatoes and onions, can be donated. However, donors may be able to bring produce just before distribution time so it can be handed out on that day.

Make sure that the containers used to deliver food donations are washed with fresh, soapy water, scrubbed out, sanitized with a light food-grade sanitizer, rinsed, and dried. Produce put in dirty bins – or even clean bins that are still wet – are subject to bacterial contamination.

 

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