Nonprofit Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners dehydrating imperfect produce to feed the hungry

REPOSTED FROM NEWS OUTLET

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Two Kalamazoo couples are starting a non-profit that will use discarded produce to prevent hunger across the globe.

Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners is currently starting its operations at a warehouse off King Highway.

A generous supporter purchased a 21,000 sq. ft. building on King Highway in Kalamazoo as the new location of Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners, May 16, 2023. (Image: Jessica Harthorn)

The non-profit will partner with local farmers who will donate cosmetically imperfect produce that would otherwise go to a landfill, and share it with malnourished people worldwide.

Co-owner Jim Van Tuinen said the answer to world hunger is literally growing all around us.

“We’ve come to realize after researching this, 25,000 people on this planet will die today of starvation, 10,000 of them are children, throw into that the fact in the United States 25% of crops of produce that are grown goes into landfills or plowed under,” Van Tuinen said.

Through a grant, Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners recently purchased a massive food dehydrator. Volunteers will soon wash, trim and chop the produce and process it by using the machine.

It can potentially turn 1,000 lbs. of potatoes into 100 lbs., that’s 10% of its original weight.

The dehydrated food will then be packaged into small bags and be distributed to churches, missions and orphanages in 26 countries by West Michigan relief agency partners.

The dehydrated food will be packaged into small bags and be distributed to churches, missions and orphanages in 26 countries by West Michigan relief agency partners, May 16, 2023. (Image: Jessica Harthorn)

Van Tuinen said it’s his dream to inspire others around the country to replicate his model, which will not only feed the hungry but also eliminate methane gas.

“The deeper meaning is that there’s a God in heaven that loves these people and that we have the means to share that love. We have the means to feed the world. There’s plenty of produce and crops on this planet to feed everyone, and we feel like we can take a bite out of hunger right here in Southwest Michigan,” Van Tuinen said.

The dehydrated food will be packaged into small bags and be distributed to churches, missions and orphanages in 26 countries by West Michigan relief agency partners, May 16, 2023. (Image: Jessica Harthorn)

Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners is expected to become fully operational by the summer of 2024.