NH Gleans program hopes to address increased need for food assistance

LEE, N.H. —

As a food pantry on the Seacoast reports seeing more than double the usual number of people come through its doors over the past few weeks, a state program is giving those in need access to fresh, healthy produce.

At Roots in Reverie Farm in Lee, farmers say their mission is to grow high-quality produce to fuel and energize the local community. But not all produce can go to market, whether because of aesthetics or there's enough time to harvest.

"It could either end up just being tilled over in the field or going to a landfill," said Allison Bussiere, food systems coordinator for Gather , which runs a food pantry, mobile markets and food access programs.

Gleaning can give those leftovers a second chance. The New Hampshire Gleans program takes perfectly good produce from