FEATURE STORY REIMAGINING FOOD RELIEF The Power of Home Growers By Michelle Rivera, Senior Communications Manager
and thousands of shrimp fishermen out of work, many families suddenly faced food insecurity. AmpleHarvest.org stepped in. In the aftermath of the spill, Gary reached out to Louisiana food banks to ask how he could help. The answer was clear: With fishing bans in place, thousands of shrimp fishermen—many of them Vietnamese immigrants—would be out of work for at least a year. This economic ripple effect meant that many families who once made their living from the Gulf waters would now be turning to food pantries for support. And it wasn’t just Louisiana— communities across the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida, would feel the impact. Recognizing that the increased demand would put a heavy strain on food pantries, Gary developed a model tailored to the unique challenges of the crisis. The response worked. By mobilizing gardeners and volunteers and updating donation logistics in real time, AmpleHarvest.org demonstrated that with determination and collaboration, fresh food can reach those in need, even under the most extreme conditions. Today, that same model continues to evolve and serves as a vital link between home gardeners and food pantries, ensuring that fresh, nutritious food reaches those who need it most.
CNN Hero and World Food Prize nominee Gary Oppenheimer, Founder and Executive Director of AmpleHarvest.org.
What if every home gardener in America knew they could donate their surplus produce to a local food pantry? The impact would be transformative. Although achieving 100 percent awareness may not be realistic, even a fraction could move the needle on hunger and health in this country. Today, an estimated 62 million Americans grow food at home. If more of their surplus harvests found their way into food pantries, the ripple effects would be significant, especially in public health. Enter AmpleHarvest.org, a one-of-a-kind, nationwide initiative operating in over 5,600 communities across all 50 states. The New Jersey-headquartered nonprofit connects nearly 8,300 food pantries with surplus produce from home gardeners, creating a simple, seamless way to turn surplus harvest into vital food donations. “In the fight against hunger, AmpleHarvest.org is revolutionizing fresh food access, much like Uber and Lyft transformed transportation,” said CNN Hero and World Food Prize nominee Gary Oppenheimer, Founder and Executive Director of AmpleHarvest.org. Founded 16 years ago with a simple yet powerful mission—to ensure no homegrown food goes to waste—AmpleHarvest.org quickly proved its value. When the 2010 BP oil spill devastated Gulf Coast communities, Oppenheimer realized the model could be adapted to respond to disasters. With local fisheries shut down
26 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com May | June 2025
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