Some western Massachusetts farmers say the apple bounty is so good this year they’re giving away thousands of pounds of the fruit. That’s in stark contrast to last year, when a late frost decimated local apple crops.
Leslie Harris of Quon-Quont Farm in Whately said the farm normally sells apples directly to customers, including those who pick their own. But this year, she said, there are just too many for that market.
“We can only sell so many through that model, and we don’t have any of the infrastructure that would sell those off the farm,” she said. “So the best thing to happen to them is that they’re going to go where they’re needed.”
The farm invited an anti-hunger organization, Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts, to pick the extras — a process known as gleaning.
“We distribute [gleaned apples] to more than 60 of our partner food banks, agencies, community meal programs, in addition to places that gleaners bring the apples themselves, sometimes to a pop up food pantry, sometimes to community and neighbors, to places all over three counties,” said Sarah Bluestein, volunteer coordinator at Rachel’s Table.
The organization said it’s already donated 10,000 pounds of apples to food programs this season, and almost 20,000 pounds of other produce.
Harris said climate change makes harvesting more unpredictable from year to year. That can be a strain on farming income, she said, but better to have too many apples than too few.
Copyright 2024 88.5 NEPM
