Guidelines for Growers

Thank you for your interest in donating produce through GleaND! Please read through the following guidelines to learn more about process and answers to common concerns. If you have any questions, please contact our Gleaning Coordinator at info@gleand.org

How It Works

Growers who would like to donate produce must first register with GleaND. Our Gleaning Coordinator will then contact you to arrange a glean. We will coordinate volunteers to come to your property at a designated time to pick and transport the produce. The produce is then distributed at charitable feeding organizations around the area.

Growers may choose to plant extra rows in order to donate, or may donate any excess produce at the end of the season. We encourage all types of growers to donate, from backyard gardens to large-scale farms.

Who will have access to my personal information?
Only your address will be shared with those volunteers who have signed up for the glean.

Are volunteers trained and supervised?
All GleaND volunteers are properly trained and supervised. Volunteers must also sign a Liability Waiver that protects both the grower and GleaND.

What if someone gets sick? Can I be sued?
In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, a federal law that encourages food and grocery donations to non-profit organizations to distribute to those in need. The Bill Emerson Act protects anyone who donates food to a non-profit from liability. To learn more about this law, visit Feeding America.

Are there any benefits or incentives for my donation?
Yes! The federal food donation tax deduction, implemented in 2016 as part of the PATH ACT, includes provisions to allow for-profit farms to claim tax deductions for donated produce. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the amount of the deduction is equal to whichever of the following calculations is less:

Deduction = tax basis for donated food (generally your cost) + one-half of the appreciation (fair market value - tax basis)

or

Deduction = twice your tax basis

The deduction cannot exceed 15 percent of your farm's net income. In addition, your donation cannot offset more than 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. If your donation exceeds these limits, or if you do not owe taxes in the year you donated, the deduction can be carried over each of the following five years.

If you are interested in learning more about this deduction, please visit this document and consult your tax adviser.