We are not looking for a pat on the back. We could only make these donations because we had such a fantastic season. We did try to sell as much as we could. Surely other farmers in the State donated also.

Every year the Master Gardeners have gleaned apples here on a weekly basis. The amount gleaned depends on our crop and how many volunteers they have. This year they picked 4,756 pounds of apples that they distributed to various food pantries in York County.

Columbus Day weekend we did our annual Pick for ME campaign. A customer takes two bags and fills them both. They pay for one bag and the other goes into a bin and we deliver these to York County Food Rescue (YCFR) in Alfred, 3,600 pounds. We did another Pick for ME weekend which netted another 1,200 pounds for YCFR. A Sanford High teacher asked if seniors could get community service for picking apples for donation. This netted another 1,044 pounds for YCFR. 5,844 total pounds to YCFR.

We delivered 1,476 pounds of apples to the York County Shelter for their Thanksgiving baskets.

2,387 pounds of apples went to other organizations, Partners for Hunger Free York County, Saco Bay Rotary for backpack programs and other food pantries, York County Community Action, Women Infants and Children, Kennebunk backpack program, Sanford backpack program, Maine Cooperative Extension, YMCA 5 K race, Acton Elementary School, Seacoast Eat Local, and Children’s Cancer.

The total apples that were donated from our orchard was 14,463 pounds, over 7 tons.

Because our winter squash did so well we donated  3,400 pounds to YCFR.

We hope each season that we can continue to donate much-needed fruits and veggies to organizations that feed those in need. This was a phenomenal year and the chances of repeating this depend on Mother Nature. Hopefully, she will be as kind in the future.

Thank you for a successful year.