HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Ottawa Food is bringing back its “Pick for Pantries” program.
This allows U-Pick patrons at participating Ottawa County produce farms to donate a portion of their pick to local food pantries on certain dates during the growing season. This year’s first Pick for Pantries is today at Visser Farms’ Strawberry Patch.
Last year, Ottawa Food piloted the program and recorded more than 38 pounds of strawberries and 280 pounds of blueberries donated to Harvest Stand Ministries, Salvation Army of Holland and Community Action House through partnerships with Visser Farms and Bowerman Blueberries.
Another farms has joined the program this year: Crossroads Blueberries on Lake Michigan Drive in West Olive. Now Ottawa Food is looking for a U-Pick apple farm to participate in the fall.
“The pilot programs were incredibly successful last summer, and hearing feedback from recipients at local agencies was the best part,” said Lisa Uganski, coordinator of Ottawa Food. “They were thrilled to be receiving this beautiful freshly picked, local fruit, and those who donated loved picking extra to give, knowing that they were helping farmers as well as neighbors.”
Donation dates for strawberries at Visser Farms will be June 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28.
Donation dates for blueberry and apple picking will be posted later in the summer at www.facebook.com/OttawaFoodCouncil, based on the growing season and farm availability.
