Siskiyou County residents who income qualify are invited to come choose free, fresh produce for their households at the biggest tailgate parties the county community has likely ever seen.
Thanks to a California Foodlink program locally administered by Great Northern Services, a semi-truck full of fresh produce and a limited amount of bread and pastries will be delivered for free distribution at Tailgate Produce Parties in four Siskiyou County cities every month from May through October.
GNS Program Coordinator Heather Solus said the program is “an exciting opportunity to get fresh fruits and vegetables to our community directly from farmers and food producers. Fresh fruits and vegetables are key to healthy eating, but are not always accessible to people, particularly if the food budget is tight.”
“Donate, Don’t Dump”
The fresh produce headed to Siskiyou County is donated by farmers and growers throughout California, according to www.foodlink.org.
Working with the California Department of Social Services, Foodlink started a “Donate, Don’t Dump” program in the mid-1990s, asking growers to donate rather than discard any excess perishable food they were producing. The website states that Foodlink now receives between 10 and 12 million pounds of food each year from growers and packing houses throughout California who donate to the program.
Foodlink gets the donated food to the people who need it, partnering with local organizations and food banks in the communities served.
Contact: For more information about the Tailgate Produce Party program, please call Heather Solus at 938-4115, ext. 128.