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Kent Gleaning Network picking unwanted fruit and veg from farms in Thanet and Deal to donate to food charities

A volunteer organisation saving unwanted farm produce from going to waste in Kent and delivering it to food hubs are working hard to keep the operation going, despite the logistical difficulties of lockdown.

The need to practice social distancing means only a small number of volunteers can take part in the picking process, making the back-breaking task all the more difficult.

The group have been saving tons of fruit and veg
The group have been saving tons of fruit and veg

Carrie Eeles, Kent Gleaning Network co-ordinator, said she wanted to make sure the picks could still happen, as it's a more difficult time than ever for many families across the county.

She said: "We had to stop to re-evaluate everything, check and re-write all our risk assessments.

"The way we we distributed food before was very community-centred, so we had large numbers of volunteers taking small amounts to charities and community hubs near them.

"Obviously that doesn't work in the current circumstances, so instead we're working directly with food hubs and doing much smaller gleans and getting the food to one specific area."

The volunteers are working with the Deal with it and Hythe environmental community groups, and so far have delivered fresh produce to food hubs and food banks in Deal, Ramsgate, Sittingbourne, Faversham and Canterbury.

The volunteers are also working with Ramsgate town council team to deliver produce
The volunteers are also working with Ramsgate town council team to deliver produce

Last week just eight people took part in the picking, and Carrie made sure volunteers were picking in households to make the task a little quicker.

She said: "If we didn't do that it would take us days to actually pick anything."

The term 'gleaning' means collecting crops left over from farmer's fields that are not economically profitable to harvest.

The volunteers spend their days working through orchards and fields in order to salvage any produce the farm cannot harvest themselves, often because it would cost to much to employ pickers.

This means tons of fruit and veg that would be wasted gets saved and distributed to those who need it the most.

Volunteers have to work by household to observe social distancing
Volunteers have to work by household to observe social distancing

In the past week, the volunteers have saved 2 tons of cauliflowers and 100 kilos of braeburn apples.

Due to lockdown measures, the group has been no bigger than 8 people.

Usually Carrie would be asking people to sign up to help the cause, but in this unusual time they are having to get by with less volunteers.

She said: "It just doesn't work when you're trying to avoid contact between people, so it's challenging but we're getting there."

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