The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania partners with local farmers to provide fresh, local produce to families in need. Second Harvest does this through a Gleaning Program, the practice of collecting and donating produce left after the harvest or when there is a surplus.

Gleaned produce is picked up at the farm, taken back to Second Harvest then distributed to member agencies. Gleaning takes place weekdays– June through November.

If you are a farmer interested in inviting Second Harvest volunteers to glean, please call Jade Menow at 814-459-3663 x 109 or email her at jmenow@nwpafoodbank.org.

Am I liable as a grower?

  • In 1996, The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was signed into law. This law protects good-faith food donors from civil and criminal liability should the product later cause harm to its recipients. Individuals, nonprofit agencies, corporations, partnerships, organizations, associations, governmental entities, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, caterers, farmers and gleaners who act in good faith are protected.
  • The Emerson Act provides protection when food and grocery products meet all quality standards imposed by federal, state and local laws and regulations even though the food may not be “readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus or other conditions.” Second Harvest coordinates these events to ensure that the land and crops are respected.