Fresno County, the heart of California’s most productive agricultural region, faces a food‑insecurity rate of 15.9%, one of the highest in the state. At the same time, roughly one‑third of harvested crops never reach market, resulting in an estimated five tons of fresh produce per farm going to waste each year.
Gleaning offers a practical solution
Gleaning—collecting crops that producers cannot or choose not to sell—provides a direct way to reduce on‑farm loss while supplying fresh food to those who lack it. Since December 2025, the nonprofit Offer Kindness, founded by Aleeza and Simon Berman, has coordinated volunteers to rescue surplus fruit and deliver it to local families, food banks and charitable partners.
“It’s always been my belief that there are people in need and people with resources that are not being utilized,” co‑founder Simon Berman said. “When we moved to California we saw the abundance of fruit and the depth of food insecurity, and we wanted to connect the two.”
Impact in the first six months
In just half a year, Offer Kindness rescued more than 250,000 pounds of produce. The effort relies on a network of volunteers who harvest from farms, collect fruit from private backyards, and sort the bounty at partner facilities. Volunteer Derek described the work as “getting out there, getting that food, and having fun while doing it.”
One farm partner, Blossom Bluff Orchards, illustrates how growers can integrate donations into their operations. Owner Bryce Loewen harvests later than most to capture peak flavor, but the ripest fruit often exceeds market standards. Loewen dries or sells the excess at a discount, yet still has surplus that Offer Kindness collects weekly for distribution to charitable agencies.
Community participation expands reach
Residential growers also contribute. A homeowner named Beverly, who received assistance through a backyard gleaning, noted that she keeps five trees for family and friends and donates the remainder to food banks. Volunteers like Darnice report that the program now provides fresh produce to more than 150 individuals, many of whom are homebound or lack transportation.
Support from local business specialists at F3 Local has helped Offer Kindness develop a clear mission statement, secure grant funding and launch crowdfunding campaigns. Simon Berman credited the partnership for enabling the organization to grow from a small effort into a larger, more impactful operation.
Challenges and future needs
The nonprofit’s biggest hurdles are heat‑related spoilage, limited cold‑storage capacity, and staffing constraints. Simon explained that a refrigerated truck and a dedicated cold‑storage facility would allow the group to collect more fruit, hold it longer and expand distribution throughout the Central Valley.
Offer Kindness continues to seek volunteers, donors and corporate partners to scale its model. Those interested can learn more or sign up to help at offerkindness.net.
Original reporting: Fresnoland — read the source article.
