We picked a lot of tomatoes that otherwise would have gone to waste. Fouts and SMHS horticulture teacher Nikki Yount are planning a field trip to let their classes continue the gleaning effort. Local FFA members who helped with last week's effort, in addition to Hampton, Sutton and Putman, were Desiree Hoyle, Beth McCoy, Tyler Melton, Daniel Coward, Heather Mull, Misty Gregory, Kayla Painter, Michelle Elders, Cassie Kirkland, Stephanie Ashe, Crystal Hoyle, Joseph Woodring and Joe McCoy. Gleaning projects are increasing each year, said a Society of St. Andrew spokesman. Almost 20 percent of all food produced in the United States for human consumption is lost annually.
Gleaners can be any age and are often groups from churches, schools and clubs.
The local gleaning effort was a joint one by the SMHS FFA and their counterparts at Swain County High. It was made possible through the generosity of growers Cochran and Jeff Darnell of Darnell Farms near Governor's Island, said Becky Wilson of the Farm Service Agency. Volunteers who assisted with the effort included Dick Sellers of Sylva and Ralph Hyatt, Joe Thomas and Jean Brown of Swain County. Food and drinks for the gleaners were donated by Jeff Bell of Triple B in Sylva, Papa's Pizza of Bryson City and Kim Armstrong of the Watering Trough in Bryson City.