Too Many Apples? Farms With Surplus Offer Up Produce to Those in Need

By Karen Brown

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.