On Thanksgiving, families and friends gather to celebrate their blessings with the most basic of luxuries: a big meal. But in the state of North Carolina, 14 percent of the population is considered "food insecure." And at the same time, a large amount of the produce grown in our state never makes it to stores - odd-sized or blemished fruits and vegetables are often just left to rot. Connecting those two realities are gleaning networks: nonprofits which collect and distribute produce which would otherwise go to waste, a process which often starts out in the fields. WHQR's Megan Williams attended a gleaning, and has this audio postcard.
By Megan V. Williams
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-490693.mp3
Gleaning North Carolina's Fields for the Hungry
November 23, 2005, Fuquay-Verina, NC – Dianne Bittikofer is the Society of Saint Andrew's coordinator for the Triangle region.
You can find out more about gleaning in North Carolina at SOSA's webpage: http://www.endhunger.org