Farm Programs

The Food Bank Orchard, a partnership with Chatham University, hosts volunteers periodically during farm season and is located in Gibsonia, Pa. Volunteers help maintain the plot by tending to the fruit trees and shrubs, mulching, and pruning. This opportunity is open to individuals who are 15 years or older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers are required to wear closed-toed shoes and long pants.
Gleaning is a form of food rescue. Volunteers join Food Bank staff in gathering fresh food from the fields after farmers are done harvesting. Gleaning opportunities pop-up, often with little notice, throughout the growing season.

Ever wonder what happens to the produce that goes unsold at Farmers’ Markets?

In many neighborhoods, our member agencies or volunteers are ready and waiting to take it to our neighbors in need while it’s still fresh and delicious via our Farmers Market Connection Program! Volunteers interact with vendors at the end of farmers markets and collect donations from farmers, which then they deliver to the local agency they have been matched with. They record the pounds donated from each farm donor so that we can keep track of donations from individual farmer, and provide receipts. The shifts last 1.5- 2 hours total.

Each participating Farm / Vendor is receipted separately for their donations, and we’ve recognized recent donors at the bottom of this page.

For more information on these and other opportunities, email us at volunteer@ pittsburghfoodbank.org or call 412-745-7600.