Volunteers who ‘glean’ leftover and excess fruit and vegetables to supply to Cornwall’s food charities are looking for financial backing to continue their support.  

Gleaning Cornwall says that increasingly there is “less money around to do more with”.

Although it is currently transitioning from a community interest company to charitable status, in order access more funding options, it has launched a Crowdfunder to bridge the gap in the short term.

Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields. Through Gleaning Cornwall, volunteers, overseen by a team of paid part-time co-ordinators, harvest or simply sort through and pack surplus or ‘out-graded’ produce – fresh fruit and vegetables that are the wrong size or shape.

This is then distributed for free to more than 50 food banks, community larders and community kitchens in Cornwall and West Devon, which are currently feeding more than 12,000 people experiencing food insecurity every week.

Excess fruit and vetables are collected to be distributed to Cornwall's food charities (Image: Gleaning Cornwall) It is estimated that one fifth of children in Cornwall live in poverty and 13 per cent of households suffer food insecurity. 

Gleaning Cornwall has existed since 2021 and estimated that last year it saved the charities £160,000 by providing nearly 90 tonnes of fruit and veg, also saving the environment 218 tonnes of CO2e (greenhouse gases) in the process.

It says that for each £1 it receives through the Crowdfunder, its work will save a local food charity £3.80 – although as it is match-funded, in reality it will save at least £7.60.

Money donated will pay a team of part-time coordinators to organise and run gleans, as well as cover petrol and other transport costs, insurance and equipment.

In return, those donating £5 or more will be entered into a January draw to win a selection of prizes, including a week's stay in a holiday cottage at Cape Cornwall, artwork, jewellery, rum, an organic veg box and supporter bumper stickers.

To contribute visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/gleaning-cornwall

Commonly asked questions

Why is there so much food waste in Cornwall’s fields?

Most farmers have to over-produce in order to ensure they can fulfil their contracts.

Because crops grow at varying rates and labour is expensive, farmers have to choose one or two optimum times to harvest, but some of the crop will have got too big or not be ready then. Occasionally also a buyer reneges on their contract or a crop may not be up to standard.

Gleaning Cornwall added: “We are incredibly grateful to all the kind farmers who support us. They not only have low prices to contend with but are also having to cope with an increasingly challenging, changing climate and a complicated new payment system, so please buy local whenever you can!”

Volunteers help harvest the crops as well as sort and package (Image: Gleaning Cornwall)

What are the benefits of Gleaning Cornwall?

  1. It helps food charities that are struggling with free, healthy, fresh produce, which they often find difficult to source otherwise.
  2. Coordinators and volunteers alike enjoy communal, outdoor exercise that has purpose.
  3. Reducing food waste helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  4. Farmers don't like waste and are happy to help their community.
  5. It helps to connect food charities so they can better support each other.
  6. The map on Gleaning Cornwall’s website is used widely and helps people in crisis find - and organisations signpost others to - relevant support.