The GardenWorks Project is launching Fresh Food Connect, a mobile app this spring to make it easier for home and community gardeners to donate a portion of their fresh grown produce to local food access organizations.

Wheaton, Ill. (March 1, 2022) — The GardenWorks Project is launching Fresh Food Connect, a mobile app this spring to make it easier for home and community gardeners to donate a portion of their fresh grown produce to local food access organizations.

“This partnership will ensure that everyone in our community has access to fresh produce and can participate in the local food economy,” said Jeannie Iseman, executive director. “It also benefits our food access partner organizations, who are always looking to source more produce.”

Through the app, GardenWorks coordinates donations from home and community gardeners to local non-profit organizations working to address food insecurity. Gardeners from Kane and DuPage County who download the app will be able to describe their donation and select a drop-off location and time to donate their excess produce.Throughout the growing season, GardenWorks will update available locations and their hours.

Local farmers and commercial growers can also connect with GardenWorks through the app. If they have more than 100 pounds of fresh produce to donate, GardenWorks will assemble a team to glean and transport the items.

“Last year, we partnered with two farms to harvest, transport and donate more than 1,200 pounds of fresh vegetables that would have been wasted otherwise,” Iseman said. “Through Fresh Food Connect, we can collaborate more easily with local farmers and redirect even more produce.”

Fresh Food Connect launched in 2016 with the goal of connecting gardeners with local nonprofits and food pantries to improve access to fresh produce. As of December 2021, the company partners with 58 organizations in 20 states that engage over 2,000 gardeners and distribute homegrown produce to community members facing insecurity in over 1,500 zip codes.

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For more information and for the full press release, see below.