SAN DIEGO — Inflation and soaring food prices are challenging the budgets of San Diego County residents. In this Zevely Zone, I headed to Linda Vista where the non-profit organization Produce Good had a special delivery.
If you like sunshine, volunteering and the smell of fresh fruit, I have a job for you. It may sound simple but, if you don't pick fruit when it ripens it rots.
"It's just on the ground," said Nita Kurmins Gilson who in 2010 was walking her dog and spotted spoiling fruit. "All of this citrus is laying on the ground," said Nita.
That discovery bothered Nita so much she called her friends and family members to help her pick fruit and give it people in need. The idea grew and grew into the non-profit called Produce Good. What started off with just Nita has grown into a produce powerhouse of volunteers.
"About four thousand. I know it's pretty awesome," said Nita.
The organization now works with nine hundred growers across the county.
"There are people who just have groves of trees and they don't know what to do with," said Nita who told us one in four San Diegans struggles with food insecurity. They'll glean whatever crop you have to offer.
"Lemons, grapefruit, tangerines, oranges," said Nita. "Celery, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, onions, plums, pears, peaches."
We watched nursing students from USD help deliver this fresh picked lemon harvest. "Not only does it feel good it tastes good too," said one student.
The food recipient during our visit was the Bayside Community Center.
"We know that everything is rising, rents, food especially," said Rose Ceballos from the Bayside Community Center. Rose says low-income residents in Linda Vista depend on food distributions weekly.
"You know it makes me feel good that we can do something," said Rose. "I just think that our partnership with Produce Good has been very fruitful."
When life gives you lemons, Rose says you make the following. "Lemonade, I know that we make ceviche with them, we also put them in all of our soups, put a little bit over your guacamole and your salsa," said Rose.
Produce Good has stopped 800 tons of food from going to the landfill and they're not trying to win any beauty contests.
"We never say ugly, we say cosmetically challenged," laughed Nita. Add it all up, they've saved nearly two million pounds of food that Nita couldn't stand to watch rot on the ground.
"Yes, yes and it was a problem that I just could handle," said Nita. "We are basically trying to spread the gospel of glean, that's kind of what we do."
Their small team of staff and organizational volunteers, alongside a powerhouse of community volunteers, growers, partners and supporters, make it happen 52 weeks a year. Their mission? Build an active and engaged community committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate hunger, reclaim and repurpose waste and promote the health and well-being of all.
Produce Good is expanding their services into Chula Vista. They are need of South Bay volunteers. If you'd like to volunteer typical gleaning sessions are 2-3 hours on a Saturday or Sunday. For information call (760) 492-3467 or email info@producegood.org. You can also click here.