Got a backyard garden bursting with more zucchini, tomatoes, or peppers than your family can eat? Albuquerque has a new program designed just for you — and for neighbors who could use a helping hand.
The City of Albuquerque has officially launched the Backyard Harvest Share program, a community-minded initiative that connects local residents who grow their own produce with food pantries serving families in need across the metro area. The program was announced this past weekend, with coverage from both KOB 4 and KRQE highlighting the city’s commitment to reducing food insecurity while making the most of homegrown abundance.
The concept is simple and neighborly at its core: Albuquerque residents who have surplus fruits, vegetables, or herbs from their backyard gardens can donate that fresh produce directly to local food pantries through the program. Rather than letting extra harvests go to waste, gardeners now have a clear, city-supported pathway to share what they grow with community members who need it most.
Fresh, locally grown produce is often one of the hardest items for food pantries to stock, making backyard donations especially valuable for the families they serve. Programs like this one also help strengthen the bonds between neighbors — turning individual gardens into a collective resource for the whole community.
Albuquerque has a long tradition of community gardening and urban agriculture, and the Backyard Harvest Share builds naturally on that culture. Whether someone has a small raised bed or a sprawling backyard plot, the program offers a meaningful way to contribute to the city’s food security network without any complicated steps.
Residents interested in participating can look to the City of Albuquerque for details on how to get involved, drop off locations, and which food pantries are part of the program. With fall harvests wrapping up across the city, the timing couldn’t be better to put that extra produce to good use — and to make a real difference for a fellow Albuquerquean.
