Program rescues unwanted produce for those in need

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Farmers in the Lawrence area are being recruited to participate in a program that gathers unsellable produce and donates it to people in need.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Office is working on the effort with two other nonprofits.

The county received a federal grant to support the effort.

Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Food Waste Reduction Specialist Jamie Hofling said that volunteers were recently able to rescue 40 pounds of organic spinach that had been invaded by small insects called aphids, which do not render the plants inedible but do need to be washed off.

After a thorough washing, the produce was donated to those in need.