From U-Pick to Grab & Go

The COVID pandemic has placed huge stresses on local food banks, with budgets that have been decimated by the drop in contributions coupled with a significant surge in demand due to the economic impact of the crisis. 

To respond to this challenge, the Lewis and Clark Environmental Club would like to contribute to our community's  food assistance  program by volunteering for Green Bluff farmers to help with selling and harvesting seasonal fruit, in exchange for fresh produce donations to our free meal distribution sites.

To support this program and encourage participation by local farmers throughout the season, we are trying to develop a mutually beneficial system, and we need your help.

Most Green Bluff farmers adopt a "U-pick" model, which means that a lot of fruit is left on the trees at the end of the season, wasting precious resources as well as income for the farmers. To address this gap, we would like to encourage Spokane families to work with us by pre-ordering boxes of fruit that students can bring back to town and distribute to the buyers at specific locations - a model similar to co-op produce boxes, but with more flexibility.  Each week we would email all interested families to let them know which participating growers have fruit ready to pick (what types of cherries, peaches, apples etc and at what prices), our project coordinator would take orders, then students would bring back the purchased boxes and distribute them at a set time and place. We feel that this model would benefit everyone, as families could enjoy locally grown fruit at lower prices than in the stores, supporting local farmers, food waste would be reduced and families in need would receive much-needed fresh seasonal fruit.

If you are interested in being part of our Green Bluff Harvest Rescue program as a supporting family willing to order some fruit boxes over the summer, please contact us and  we will add your name to our list. Thank you so much for helping your local community!

Team: The Lewis and Clark High School Environmental Club  (Spokane, WA)

Coordinator Contact:  Ali Groza     yes350info@gmail.com

Volunteers:  Evelyn Carroll, Eliza Dawley, Gabriel Dawley, Emily Foster, Ginny Lou Garabedian, Helen Garabedian, Paige Gall, Ali Groza, Thomas Groza, Sarah Hegde, Logan Henry, Rian Hidalgo,  Lucia Jensen, Linnea Kishiyama, Jadyn Malone, Lily Myklebust, Oliver Nollette, Zoe North, Sameer Powers, Halie Resleff, Kaua Roberton, Ben Schnurman, Lauren Schulte, Owen Swanson, Jack Toillion, Holly Van Voorhis, Asha Warran

Project Term: June to November 2020 (and yearly afterwards)

PROJECT BY NUMBERS
(as of October 19, 2020)

Fruit Donated to East Central Food Bank:   1,300  lb
(Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center)
https://mlkspokane.org

Fruit Orders Purchased from Local Farmers:   2,150 lb

Total Fruit Picked by Our Student Volunteers:    3,450 lb

Number of Students Participating:   27

2021 Season (July - September, normal school schedule resuming September 2021 )

Volunteers:   Sophie Avery,  Bridget Burns,  Eliza Dawley, Emily Foster,  Helen Garabedian, Ali Groza, Thomas Groza, Rian Hidalgo, Lucia Jensen, Jaea Ledgerwood,  Cooper Littell, Ethan Lotrarrio,  Diedra  Lynch, Lily Myklebust,  Oliver Noelitee, Zoe North, Sophie Sarri,  Lauren Schulte,, Sophia Thompson, Holly Vanhooris, Asha Warran, Emily Wartinger

Fruit Donated to East Central Food Bank:   500  lb
(Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center)
https://mlkspokane.org

Fruit Orders Purchased from Local Farmers:   1,200 lb

Total Fruit Picked by Our Student Volunteers:    1,700 lb

Number of Students Participating:   22