A guest blog from our Affiliate Program Manager, Ariel Gold:

It’s no secret; I prefer to spend my time in the city. I’ve been living in DC for almost ten years with no end point in site. If I want produce, I just go to my local farmers market. However, I recognize that not everything can come my way via a busy urban street, and not all things point towards a city center. Sometimes, you need to follow the country road. To get produce really fresh, go to the source.

This summer, CKP is partnering with the Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network (MAGNET) to develop a produce exchange between the mid-Atlantic Campus Kitchens and DC Central Kitchen. Campus Kitchens glean from farms close to their operations to ensure that their clients are receiving nutritious and locally sourced meals.

This past Tuesday, the Campus Kitchen at Johns Hopkins University hosted the first gleaning trip of the program. Ten students volunteering with CKJHU met Jamie Schuman, Partner Relations Manager at DC Central Kitchen, and Pastor Hall, Coordinator for MAGNET, at Miller Farms in Clinton, MD. After battling traffic to get away from the city, the students were ready to work. Within 90 minutes, we had managed to pick 225 pounds of kale and 575 pounds of collard greens. The produce was split between the Maryland Food Bank and DC Central Kitchen.

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