Food Bank berry goodness - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Food Bank berry goodness

Pickers were out in bunches Saturday taking a final grab at the last of the good blueberry crop.

But, they weren't out for themselves. At Owl's Head Farm in Richmond, Saturday was a ripe opportunity to help the Vermont Food Bank.

"We can engage volunteers engage our community members at the same time as bringing some really well needed, fresh produce, and in this case berries to different agencies around the state," said Katie Rumley of the Vermont Food Bank.

Kathy Repetti, a volunteer, says demand for food donations around the state is up. Especially for fresh fruit which they'll freeze and distribute throughout the year.

Lawrence Copp, one of the farm's owners, has been participating in the program for years --he says the growing this season was exceptional.

"If you had this much fruit on your bushes at home, you would be ecstatic," said Copp.

But commercially the demand and supply don't match.

"School's back in session, families aren't as able to take the time and go on out," said Copp.

Copp was in a use it or lose it situation

"If they stay here for another 3 4 days they're going to start to go by and they're going to fall on the ground," said Copp.

There's about a dozen volunteers and they're picking for about 3 hours, but they're expected to glean 100 gallons of blueberries for the food bank.

"Any little opportunity is such an easy way to give back," said Repetti.

Kathy Repetti's freezer is already full of the frozen fresh fruit and she hopes others will now be able to enjoy the same.

"To be able to have some fruit in the winter is just a wonderful thing," said Repetti.

A wonderful opportunity to help so many in need.