Reno Gleaning Project Update

The Reno Gleaning Project is at it again. But there are several things different this year. 

"There's significantly less fruit and that has to do with the fact that we had a late frost and also it was cold in the spring," said Pamela Mayne of the Reno Gleaning Project. 

Well they are still busy, they've been seeing only about half as many trees with fruit this year than lasts. 

"Just so many trees producing fruit last year that sometimes the trees just take a break," added Mayne. 

Which has given Pamela and her crew more time to do other things including processing some of the fruit for canning. They've also become more organized and updated their website. renogleaningproject.org. Now the project can handle high volumes like last year.

"There's a contact us button that people can click contact us. They get get a form, fill out the form and hit submit and it goes to a spread sheet to contact growers who need help," added Mayne. 

Another change is that now a big portion of the fruit goes towards the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. 

"The kids love fresh fruit and vegetables. We work really hard here to keep a nice balanced diet for them," said Heather Mundy. 

They've gotten a couple donations a week for the past month. One bag is about 25 pounds worth. Even if your tree didn't produce any fruit this year, there's always next year and you can prepare now. Pamela has a gut instinct next year could be a big year for fruit again. 

"They do not take a year off from growing they probably grow a lot of long leggy limbs when they haven't produced any fruit and you really need to give those a haircut and get that that tree as pruned as possible," added Mayne.

Apple season will probably go for a few more weeks, so head to Reno Gleaning Project if you would like some help. In order for the fruit to be used it must be ripe, but not mushy, and Crab Apples don't count.