CROS Ministries Shines at 3rd Annual International Gleaning Symposium
May 08, 2019
CONTACT RUTH MAGERIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CROS MINISTRIES
561-233-9009
rmageria@crosministries.org
CONTACT GIBBIE NAUMAN
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
CROS MINISTRIES
561-233-9009
gnauman@crosministries.org
CROS Ministries Shines at 3rd Annual International Gleaning Symposium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lake Worth, FL – Gleaners representing groups from throughout the United States and Canada came together on April 26 and 27 for the 3rd Annual International Gleaning Symposium in Seattle, Washington. CROS Ministries’ Gleaning Director Keith Cutshall, was on hand for his presentation, How to Make Collaborations Work. The event was spearheaded by Green Urban Lunchbox from Salt Lake City, Utah and local partner, Rotary First Harvest of Seattle. According to Cutshall, CROS Ministries’ Gleaning Program is one of the largest food recovery programs in the State of Florida because of the proximity to local farms and the variety and quantity of produce we can recover.
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. Launched in 2003, CROS Ministries’ gleaning program increases the availability and consumption of fresh produce for the food insecure population in our region. The program also provides men, women, and children (five years and older) an outdoor volunteer experience that gives people the reward of providing food for the hungry in their community. As of May 7, 2019, CROS Gleaning has recovered 534,000 pounds of produce with two more months to go before our 2018-2019 season end. Another Recording Breaking Season for CROS!
Gleaning occurs from November through July, weather permitting. Our farming partners include RC Hatton, Bedner Family Farms, Agri-Gator Inc., Hundley Farms, Green Cay Farming Systems, Mecca Farms, Growers Management, and Roth Farms. We also harvest mangoes from Solid Waste Authority’s mango grove in the summer. Examples of the produce gleaned includes: tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, green peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, and mangoes. The fresh produce is then given to CROS’ distribution partners who allocate the gleaned produce to their community-based partner agencies at no cost. Palm Beach County Food Bank is our main distribution partner. Other distribution partners include House of Hope in Martin County, Feeding South Florida, Society of St. Andrew, and the Treasure Coast Food Bank.
“It was great to be around people who understand what you do, the challenges encountered, and the many successes celebrated,” said Cutshall. “I was especially inspired by the creativity of other groups as they adapted to gleaning opportunities.”
Since 1978, CROS Ministries has provided food and meals to the most vulnerable in South Florida. Its mission is to serve the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin Counties through community collaborations. Programs include eight community food pantries; a hot meal program; summer camp for children from families with low incomes, a weekend food program for chronically hungry children; and gleaning. All services are provided without regard to race, religion, national origin, marital status, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CROS MINISTRIES
561-233-9009
rmageria@crosministries.org
CONTACT GIBBIE NAUMAN
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
CROS MINISTRIES
561-233-9009
gnauman@crosministries.org
CROS Ministries Shines at 3rd Annual International Gleaning Symposium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lake Worth, FL – Gleaners representing groups from throughout the United States and Canada came together on April 26 and 27 for the 3rd Annual International Gleaning Symposium in Seattle, Washington. CROS Ministries’ Gleaning Director Keith Cutshall, was on hand for his presentation, How to Make Collaborations Work. The event was spearheaded by Green Urban Lunchbox from Salt Lake City, Utah and local partner, Rotary First Harvest of Seattle. According to Cutshall, CROS Ministries’ Gleaning Program is one of the largest food recovery programs in the State of Florida because of the proximity to local farms and the variety and quantity of produce we can recover.
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. Launched in 2003, CROS Ministries’ gleaning program increases the availability and consumption of fresh produce for the food insecure population in our region. The program also provides men, women, and children (five years and older) an outdoor volunteer experience that gives people the reward of providing food for the hungry in their community. As of May 7, 2019, CROS Gleaning has recovered 534,000 pounds of produce with two more months to go before our 2018-2019 season end. Another Recording Breaking Season for CROS!
Gleaning occurs from November through July, weather permitting. Our farming partners include RC Hatton, Bedner Family Farms, Agri-Gator Inc., Hundley Farms, Green Cay Farming Systems, Mecca Farms, Growers Management, and Roth Farms. We also harvest mangoes from Solid Waste Authority’s mango grove in the summer. Examples of the produce gleaned includes: tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, green peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, and mangoes. The fresh produce is then given to CROS’ distribution partners who allocate the gleaned produce to their community-based partner agencies at no cost. Palm Beach County Food Bank is our main distribution partner. Other distribution partners include House of Hope in Martin County, Feeding South Florida, Society of St. Andrew, and the Treasure Coast Food Bank.
“It was great to be around people who understand what you do, the challenges encountered, and the many successes celebrated,” said Cutshall. “I was especially inspired by the creativity of other groups as they adapted to gleaning opportunities.”
Since 1978, CROS Ministries has provided food and meals to the most vulnerable in South Florida. Its mission is to serve the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin Counties through community collaborations. Programs include eight community food pantries; a hot meal program; summer camp for children from families with low incomes, a weekend food program for chronically hungry children; and gleaning. All services are provided without regard to race, religion, national origin, marital status, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
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Contact:
Gibbie Nauman, Director of Development & Community Relations
gnauman@crosministries.org, (561) 233-9009 x108
