Connect with the Gleaners to increase access to fresh, healthy food in your community.
If you are an organization providing food for clients at no cost, read on to learn more about a seasonalmembership with the Gleaners.
"Fresh produce is the number one request of the people we serve, so the Gleaners are a integral part of our organization"
Alicia Blais Founder, Daniel’s Table
2024 Membership
To learn more about seasonal membership with the Gleaners, contact Jess Rivers, Agency Manager at (781) 250-9521 or [email protected]
Food access partners pay a one-time seasonal membership fee based on their level.
Weekly produce for approximately 24 weeks from July through December
Weekly availability lists and order coordination
Produce guarantee: we will make every effort to take back produce whose quality does not satisfy our members
One order per week, per location; each additional location or day of the week will be considered an additional membership
Removal of pallets and banana boxes for delivery memberships
Where does the food come from?
Lack of access to affordable, healthy food is not a supply issue. In the US, more than 30% of crops grown never leave the farm and go to waste every year, simply because farmers may not have the time or resources to harvest it all. With the help of volunteers and a network of dozens of partner farms across the region, we recover this abundance of locally-grown, high-quality fruits and vegetables for food access organizations across Massachusetts.
Many of the vegetables we glean are not as well known as what you might traditionally see in a supermarket. They might not be selected since some folks are not familiar with how to prepare them or how they taste. Read more about these veggies and try out some simple recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT QUALIFIES AN ORGANIZATION TO RECEIVE PRODUCE?
Food Access Organizations receiving produce from the Gleaners must provide food for communities at no cost. Organizations and local businesses interested in selling fresh, farm-sourced food in their community can check out the Gleaners' wholesale program, Boston Food Hub.
IS THE PRODUCE FREE?
Yes! To help recoup the costs of distributing donated produce, we ask for a one-time, seasonal fee from agencies participating in this program. These fees help pay a small portion of our overhead costs (cold storage, vehicles, staffing, and more) to help ensure that we can continue working with farmers and sourcing fresh, high-quality food together. Specific fees vary based on membership size.
WHAT REGION DOES BOSTON AREA GLEANERS SERVE?
Boston Area Gleaners operates mainly in eastern and central Massachusetts; however, we do provide produce to regional food banks outside this service area on an occasional basis.
DO the gLEANERS DELIVER?
For all membership levels except the smallest 'Seed' level, we deliver weekly distributions of fruits and vegetables from our facility in Acton to your organization. If you are able to pick up your produce directly from our facility, we may be able to reduce your seasonal fee.
HOW IS THE PRODUCE PACKAGED?
Our standard “case” size is 1 banana box (about 1 bushel) for most types of produce. Produce is also packaged in a plastic box liner as necessary to preserve freshness and ensure food safety standards are met.
WHEN IS THE GLEANING SEASON? WHEN IS PRODUCE AVAILABLE?
The harvest season usually lasts about 20 weeks (mid-July through mid-December). Please note that these dates are not set in stone and are dependent on crop availability and growing conditions in any given year.
DOES BOSTON AREA GLEANERS GIVE FOOD DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS?
Boston Area Gleaners does not deliver produce directly to individuals. If you are an individual who is facing challenges affording food, we suggest using checking out our food resources page.
HOW DOES BOSTON AREA GLEANERS ACQUIRE ITS PRODUCE?
