HDFFA’s Grow & Give program recovers surplus produce from local farms, farmers markets, community gardens and local growers and distributes them to food access sites throughout Central Oregon. By rescuing fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables that might otherwise go to waste, the program ensures more people have access to healthy food, provides an income stream for our local farmers, and supports the viability of the regional food system.

Central Oregon’s largest fresh food collection and redistribution program.

How It Works

On Farms: HDFFA brings volunteer gleaning teams to harvest surplus fruits and vegetables that might otherwise go to waste. Farmers are paid a wholesale rate for this rescued produce, which is then delivered to NeighborImpact and other local food access agencies. From there, the food is redistributed through a network of more than 50 food banks and meal sites in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties and on the Warm Springs Reservation - putting fresh, healthy food into the hands of our neighbors who need it most.

Volunteer to glean on a farm!

What is gleaning?

Gleaning is the practice of harvesting surplus fruits and vegetables from farms and sharing them with community members who need them.

At Farmers Markets: HDFFA buys surplus produce from farm partners at the end of the day, ensuring nothing goes to waste. The rescued food is distributed to local food pantries and meal sites, where it’s turned into healthy, delicious meals. By offering wholesale payment for unsold items, the program gives farmers the confidence to bring plenty of produce to market, supporting both their business and the community.

Share Your Harvest! You can make a difference! Bring fresh excess produce from your home or community garden to the Downtown Bend Farmers Market on Wednesdays from 11am - 3pm, May through October. Your donations help share healthy food with neighbors across Central Oregon.

Contact: growandgive@hdffa.org

“I can’t express how much it means to our farm and the collective sigh of relief we feel after HDFFA’s Grow and Give team has come out to glean one of our crops. Knowing that our efforts were not in vain, and that somebody in a household somewhere in Central Oregon will get to enjoy some extra salad greens or broccoli or maybe get to try a new vegetable, like kohlrabi, makes our work that much more meaningful.”

Jenn Gardener, Seed to Table Farm Manager
"These meals reach far and wide in our community. The fresh produce takes a nutritious meal and makes it an extra special experience - not only does the flavor excite, the novelty of really fresh and thoughtfully grown ingredients is a constant talking point between volunteers and diners. Grow & Give reduces our food costs by approximately $150 / week. We're so glad to have been a beneficiary of the program, and hope to continue to share in that local produce for years to come.”

Tori Wild, The Family Kitchen, Operations Manager