Glean Kentucky

Glean Kentucky reduces food waste by gathering excess fresh produce and connecting it to feeding agencies to nourish kentuckians facing food insecurity. We Glean, or collect, fresh produce through partnerships with groceries, farmers' markets, farms and orchards in thirteen Kentucky counties. The gleaning process is accomplished by volunteers who go to these sources, pick up or harvest produce that is edible, but unsalable for a variety of reasons, and then deliver the produce to partner agencies for hunger-relief efforts. Glean Kentucky's target recipients are food-insecure individuals and families who rely on hunger agencies or programs to provide food on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. These recipients often live in food deserts and do not have access to fresh produce. Glean Kentucky partners with over 40 distribution sites in central Kentucky, including churches, pantries, and agencies to reach these recipients. Example distribution partners include meal programs that reach over 24,000 fayette county residents a month, direct-to-recipient distribution sites that serve 20-30 neighbors a week, and a regional pantry that supports over 190,000 clients across Kentucky annually. In 2022 and 2021, the organization gleaned over 157,000 and 192,000 pounds, respectively. Since its founding in 2010, Glean Kentucky has gleaned over 2.4 million pounds of produce.