Before the cold weather comes, gardeners are busy picking their fruits and veggies, and, often, there is more than we need. Many neighborhoods have food stands or designated areas to share the bounty, which is a great idea. Another way to share the bounty is to donate it to those in need. For people with tight budgets, fresh produce is truly a treat and a rarity.

Fresh produce is donated to food pantries and food banks less frequently than other food items, such as canned foods, meaning those who are struggling to put food on the table often go without. This means they also go without the nutrition gained from eating these foods. The Tabitha’s Way food pantries in American Fork and Spanish Fork and Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo help provide food for hundreds of families every month. Now is the time we can all help them provide the special treat of fresh produce.

Here are some ideas for sharing and donating fresh produce this fall.

Fresh produce scavenger hunt: Youth groups and family members can go through their neighborhoods in teams “scavenging” for fresh produce to donate. Each team has a list of fruits and vegetables, and each team tries to complete its list first.

Everything-donated sharing stand: Some neighborhoods designate a week or weekend for food to be donated at the neighborhood sharing stand. Rather than having neighbors taking the shared produce during these dates, it is all collected and donated to local food banks and pantries.

Picking parties: Often, neighbors let everyone know they can come over and pick peaches, apples or plums. They make it a picking party by inviting everyone to come and pick at the same time, and everything is donated. Rather than let the apples fall to the ground to rot, they are put to good use.

Colors of the bounty: If you’re planning a food drive, you could make it a color competition. Each box or basket can be marked with a different color. The donated produce is placed into the corresponding container. For example, red apples go into the red box. Green peppers go into the green box. It can be fun to see which color is collected most.

Food drive: Most food drives are held to collect nonperishable foods, such as canned foods. This time of year is a great time to have a fresh produce food drive. Everyone brings fresh produce to donate, and it is taken right away to the food bank and pantries.

Extra food from gardens and farms, fruit that might fall off of trees and other fresh produce are welcome at Tabitha’s Way locations (675 W. Garden Drive in Pleasant Grove and 45 E. 100 North in Spanish Fork) and at Community Action Services and Food Bank at 815 S. Freedom Blvd. in Provo.