FARGO — As local gardeners begin harvesting their summer crops, many face a familiar problem: too much produce.
But rather than letting cucumbers, zucchini and other vegetables go to waste, the NDSU Master Gardeners program encourages donations to area food pantries through the “Veggies for the Pantry” project.
Esther McGinnis, director of the NDSU Extension Master Gardener Program, said the project began in 2016 when a Master Gardener realized local pantries often lacked nutritious fruits and vegetables.
“They have so many zucchinis that they’re hiding it in the car. And yet, at the same time, food pantries don’t receive a lot of nutritious fruits and vegetables,” McGinnis said.
Through partnerships with local pantries, extra produce can help families in need while reducing waste. Stacie Loegering, executive director of Fargo’s Emergency Food Pantry, said locally grown donations allow customers to feel valued.
“They felt so important that a neighbor would grow garden vegetables and then bring it to the pantry so that their family could have fresh fruits and vegetables,” Loegering said.
During last year’s growing season, the Emergency Food Pantry received nearly 35,000 pounds of produce, including more than 10,000 pounds from the NDSU Master Gardeners program. Alicia Shaffer, a caregiver with Arkos Health, picks up food for clients who cannot do so themselves and says the produce allows them to enjoy meals they otherwise couldn’t.
“It’s healthy for them. And it’s kind of just nice that kids are getting excited for fresh fruits and veggies and being able to include that in their meals,” Shaffer said.
McGinnis said the program has now donated more than 100,000 pounds of produce, equating to more than 400,000 servings. Donations also go to the Dorothy Day Food Pantry in Moorhead.
Gardeners are encouraged to wash their hands before harvesting, but not to wash produce afterward to preserve freshness. Produce should be placed in a clean bag or container and dropped off between 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays until the first frost. Volunteers will be on hand to help unload.
There are nine donation locations in the metro area:
Fargo
- The Bowler, 2630 University Drive S.
- Longfellow Recycle Parking Lot, 2939 Elm St. N.
West Fargo
- Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2711 Seventh St. E.
- Community Presbyterian Church, 702 Sheyenne St.
Moorhead
- Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of Eighth St. and Third Ave. S.
- The Village Family Service Center, 815 37th Ave. S.
Horace, N.D.
- In front of the water tower on Main Street
Kindred, N.D.
- Southwest corner of Kindred Elementary
Harwood, N.D.
- Sheyenne Gardens, 17010 29th St. SE, collection bin available Mondays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Labor Day.
Kjersti Maday joined WDAY as a reporter in May of 2024. She is a native of Granada, Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2015.
