Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest.
We've been rescuing food from Irish fields through our gleaning project since 2017 and since then we've worked with groups of volunteers to collect a range of high-quality crops (by hand) such as potatoes, onions, carrots and broccoli from our partners at Meade Potato Company and Ballymakenny Farm. Most of the fresh produce saved through Gleaning is redistributed to our network of charity and community group partners.
We also support the work of Falling Fruit Ireland, who harvest the seasonal glut of apples, pears, plums, nuts and other fruits that would otherwise not be picked and direct it to charities.
The gleaning period usually runs from August - October and is a great activity for large teams and corporate team building days for those who want a break from the office and opportunity to connect with colleagues. To find out more, email volunteer@foodcloud.ie
FoodCloud works with our gleaning partners to find suitable dates and locations on commercial farms for picking the surplus vegetables, as well as recruiting volunteers and ensuring that all the gleaned food goes to local charities who will use it. The gleaning period usually runs from August - October and is a great activity for large teams and corporate team building days for those who want a break from the office.
