FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: HELGE HELLBERG - (415) 663-9667, EXT.108

GLEANING LOCAL PRODUCE TO ALLEVIATE FOOD INSECURITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

(Point Reyes Station, CA) The New York Times article, “Hunger in U.S. at a 14-Year High,” on Wednesday, November 16, 2009, cited a report from the Department of Agriculture stating the “number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls “food insecurity.”

Marin Organic, an association of organic producers in Marin County, is directly addressing this challenge. On Monday, November 23,from 3:00 – 5:00 PM, the Marin Organic Glean Team will be harvesting fresh, local food from Star Route Farms and donating it to local community centers and food banks for the Thanksgiving holiday – and everyone is invited to become part of the solution!

The Marin Organic Glean Team is a part of the Marin Organic School Lunch and Gleaning Program, which is transforming the way we feed our children and our community. The program gives access to nutritious, local food to 12,000 children, every week. By “gleaning” – harvesting extra food on farms as well as food that does not meet the strict aesthetic requirements of restaurants and retail markets – Marin Organic enables local schools, food pantries and community centers to offset their costs and serve local and organic options while staying within their limited budgets.

The program has already harvested and delivered well over 120,000 pounds of local certified organic products to children and families throughout Marin since its inception five years ago. This week the dedicated team of volunteers – the Marin Organic Glean Team – will be sending all food directly to community centers and food banks in Marin County. Marin Organic welcomes all members of the community to come join the harvest, spend a great afternoon on a local farm, and be part of the effort to help alleviate hunger this Thanksgiving weekend.

Marin Organic is a bold new concept for preserving farmland and farming as a way of life in our region. Focused on the environmental soundness and economic viability of small-scale agriculture, Marin Organic aims to foster local food production and empower local schools, businesses and communities to participate in the creation of a healthy, sustainable food system that will serve as a model for the nation.

For more information please visit:

www.marinorganic.org