The National Gleaning Project supports a network of organizations that combat food waste and feed the hungry.
Around 30 to 40 percent of the food supply in the United States goes to waste. According to some estimates, more food reaches U.S. landfills and combustion facilities than any other single material, comprising nearly a quarter of our everyday trash. Meanwhile, more than one in 10 Americans suffers from food insecurity.
Gleaning—the rerouting of food that would otherwise go to waste—is a solution that tackles the simultaneous problems of food insecurity and food waste. And it is gaining momentum. In recent years, organizations have sprung up across the country that collect leftover crops and fresh foods from farms, markets, grocery stores, and other sources, often redistributing them to the needy.
CAFS created the National Gleaning Project to support a growing network of gleaning organizations across the United States. Channeling our expertise in food law and policy, we also conducted extensive research to help these organizations unravel the complex laws and policies that influence their activities.
Through a continuously-updated website, we provide information on national and state laws and regulations pertaining to gleaning and food donation, an interactive map of gleaning and fresh food recovery organizations across the country, and other topical resources. The goal is to help gleaning organizations become more resilient and thrive—reducing the environmental harms of waste while nourishing communities.
This project is funded by the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
