Food Bank of Delaware accepting fresh produce donations from backyard gardeners and farmers

June 27, 2025

The Food Bank of Delaware is calling on backyard gardeners across the state to join in the fight against hunger by donating surplus fruits and vegetables from their summer harvests. Whether you’re harvesting a bumper crop of tomatoes, an overflow of zucchini, or too many cucumbers to count, your extra produce can help feed neighbors facing food insecurity.

Fresh, nutritious produce is one of the most requested items by the Food Bank’s partner network of food pantries. By donating from your garden, Delawareans are not only reducing food waste, but healthy foods to individuals and families who need it most.

“We know many Delawareans take pride in growing their own food,” said Cathy Kanefsky, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Delaware. “This is a great way to share the abundance with those who are struggling to put meals on the table. Even a small donation makes a big difference.”

To ensure food safety, please be sure to follow these produce donation guidelines:

• Donate only good quality, fresh produce.
• Please do not place fresh produce in trash bags when donating. Trash bags are not graded for food and cause chemicals to leach into the food.
• Brush off as much mud and soil as possible from the produce.

Donated produce can be dropped off to the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark or Milford and Food Bank of Delaware partner food pantries throughout the state. A complete list of drop-off locations can be found by visiting https://www.fbd.org/plant-a-row/.