Fresh, free and local: The ultimate guide to Mendocino’s community produce drop-offs

AT THIS TIME OF SUMMER, Mendocino County is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables ready to eat. Often, gardeners find themselves with more than they can handle and end up throwing away produce from their harvest. 

“I feel like if you’re in need of food, you can find it in any corner of the county,” said Rachelle Sutherland, deputy director of the Mendo Food Network, a nonprofit that has helped distribute free and fresh food since 1979 and manages local distribution and drop-off sites. “I want to emphasize that it’s teamwork, and without all of the volunteers, it wouldn’t be available.”