Julie Biddle is one of our gleaners from the Scott County chapter. Her work kicks into gear in the late summer and early fall, when she heads out to Reed Valley Orchard with our team to collect windfall apples. GleanKY collects 35,000 pounds of fruit from RVO in a given year, and Julie helps redistribute a portion of that to our Scott County recipients.
When did you start volunteering with GleanKY?
I started gleaning in August 2015 after hearing about the waste of fresh produce and knowing there are so many people who don’t have access to fresh produce.
Why do you glean?
It’s a win-win for everyone. When you think about the appreciative people who will eat the food, it makes any inconvenience that may occur worthwhile.
Any favorite gleaning moments that stick out?
My favorite gleaning moment is when I dropped off apples from Reed Valley Orchard to the Gathering Place and a gentleman ran up to my van and excitedly said, “Hey guys, it’s the girl with the apples!”
If you were stuck on a desert island with one fruit/vegetable, what would it be and why?
Peaches. It doesn’t need an explanation!