Community Roots Farm Program
Sustainability is a core value of Community Food Share, and we are committed to providing sustainable agriculture through our Community Roots Farm Program and increasing the amount of food we grow ourselves, locally.
Cultivating Access to Fresh Produce
Through our Community Roots Program, we can provide neighbors visiting our pantries access to fresh, organic produce that may not be easily accessible or affordable at local stores.
Join the Glean Team at UpRoot Colorado
If you are interested in helping glean food on our behalf, or for any of our neighboring Partner Agencies, visit UpRoot Colorado to sign up or email howdy@uprootcolorado.org to be notified when gleaning opportunities become available.
What does “gleaning” mean?
Gleaning helps us source fresh, local produce for our neighbors — and it’s one way that we help prevent food waste.
We’ve been collaborating with local farmers on our gleaning initiative since 1982, and it was the first of its kind in Colorado. When farmers have extra produce in their fields, they call Community Food Share or UpRoot Colorado, and we work together with volunteers to harvest. After harvest, we or one of our neighboring partners distribute the gleaned fresh fruits and vegetables.
Garden Share and Grow a Row
Garden Share: When your garden is overflowing with more produce than you can use, donate your extra produce to our food bank.
Grow a Row: As part of your garden this year, plant and grow an extra row of your favorite veggies and donate the harvest. if you’re planning to “grow a row” for Community Food Share, we’d love to know! Register Your Garden with us or through the Fresh Food Connect app to track your garden donations to Community Food Share throughout the harvest season.
No donation is too small!
How to Donate
Leave donations on our outdoor farm stand (located at our main entrance) Mondays-Fridays, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. If you need help unloading, pull up to Dock Door 3 (on the east side of our building), Mondays-Fridays, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Earth’s Table
Earth’s Table is a volunteer-run organization that maintains gardens in Boulder, Lafayette, and Longmont. 100% of the produce they grow is donated to hunger-relief charities, including Community Food Share, and we’re incredibly grateful for their longtime support. Visit the Earth’s Table website for more information.
Purchasing and Donations From Local Farms
We are dedicated to providing fresh, healthy food to our neighbors experiencing hunger. Community Food Share works with Colorado farmers to source fresh, local agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and grains through donations and purchasing.
Animal Feed Partnerships
Sometimes, food donations come to us with some misfits: bread is stale, spinach is past its prime, or potatoes have grown a few too many “eyes”. Instead of sending these inedible food scraps to compost or the landfill, we collaborate with local livestock farmers and animal sanctuaries who use it as animal feed.
Are you a grower interested in partnering with Community Food Share?
Visit our “Food Industry Donors” webpage or contact our Senior Manager of Food Resources and Compliance at (303) 652-3663 ext. 233 for more information. Donations made to Community Food Share are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Questions?
Please call (303) 652-3663, or email volunteers@communityfoodshare.org to speak with a member of our volunteer department.
Our Core Pillars
Feed
We empower families and individuals in need, ensuring fair access for all to nourishing food through our programs and partners, helping our neighbors achieve their health and nutrition goals.
Community
We join hands with partner agencies and community members, working together to enhance our ability to receive, store, and distribute food. Through collaboration, we stand strong in our fight against hunger.
Sustainability
We are committed to promoting sustainable operations and upholding the highest standards of food safety and quality. This ensures that Community Food Share remains a trusted and reliable source of food, bringing peace of mind and nourishment to our community.
Education
Together, we raise awareness about food insecurity, integrating community input, and making decisions rooted in data and evaluation.
