Through “gleaning”, the act of harvesting excess crops from farmers' fields and redistributing this food to people experiencing food insecurity, UpRoot partners with farmers and recruits volunteers to harvest crops that might otherwise not be harvested or eaten. After the harvest, UpRoot collaborates with food banks, food pantries, and other organizations that distribute food at no cost to members of our community who do not have adequate access to nutritious food.

The gleaning program:

• Increases access to nutritious food for the 11%+ percent of Coloradans who currently face food insecurity;

• Reduces the amount of surplus fruits and vegetables that go unharvested/uneaten from farms, orchards, and fruit trees in Colorado; 

• Creates opportunities for volunteers to connect with and learn about our local food system through on-farm experiential education.