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.”
For those under economic stress who can’t always afford farm-fresh food, there are locations across the county, organized mainly by volunteers, where community members can drop off extra fruits and vegetables for others to enjoy. The Mendocino Voice has compiled a list of those sites to help guide people to free and fresh produce. Did we miss a location? Email us at info@mendovoice.com.
Albion
Albion pop-up: Provides free and fresh produce every Monday from 3-4 p.m. at 3512 Albion Ridge Rd. in Albion. Contact rachelle@mendofood.org for more information.
Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley Food Bank: Provides free and fresh produce every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Anderson Valley Grange, 9800 Highway 128 in Boonville. Contact andersonvalleyfoodbank@gmail.com for more information.
Comptche
Comptche Food Pantry: Provides free and fresh produce every Monday from 2-4 p.m. at the Chapel of the Redwoods, 31201 Comptche Ukiah Rd. in Comptche. Contact moyer@mcn.org for more information.
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg Food Bank: Provides free and fresh produce every Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and every Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 910 N. Franklin St. in Fort Bragg. Curbside distribution is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact info@fortbraggfoodbank.org for more information.
Gualala
Gualala Food Bank: Provides free and fresh produce every second Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Contact lmkennedy294@gmail.com for more information.
Laytonville
Laytonville Food Bank: Provides free and fresh produce every third Friday of the month from 1-4 p.m. at Harwood Hall, 44400 Willis Ave. in Laytonville. Contact jayma@laytonville.org for more information.
Laytonville pop-up: Provides free and fresh produce every fourth Thursday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. at 100 Cahto Dr. in Laytonville. Contact rachelle@mendofood.org for more information.
Leggett
Leggett Food Pantry: Provides free and fresh produce every third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 65100 Drive-Thru Tree Rd. in Leggett. Contact saragodfrey54@gmail.com for more information.
Leggett pop-up: Provides free and fresh produce every first Tuesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. at 65100 Drive-Thru Tree Road in Leggett. Contact rachelle@mendofood.org for more information.
Mendocino
Mendocino Community Pantry: Provides free and fresh produce every Tuesday from 2-3 p.m. at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church, 44831 Main St. in Mendocino. Contact elinoralex@gmail.com for more information.
Round Valley
Round Valley Food Pantry and the Covelo pop-up: The Covelo pop-up provides free and fresh produce every second Thursday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. The Round Valley Food Pantry also provides free fruits and veggies every third Friday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both distributors operate at 24065 Riffe Rd. in Covelo. Contact rachelle@mendofood.org for more information.
Ukiah
Ukiah Branch Library: There will be a “Produce and Pantry Share” event on the last Saturday of September and October from 2-4 p.m. at the Ukiah Branch Library, 105 N. Main St. in Ukiah. There will be free homegrown produce and nonperishable items available. Contact wolfm@mendocinocounty.gov for more information.
Ukiah Food Bank: Provides free and fresh produce every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. at 888 N. State St. In Ukiah. Contact hr@fordstreet.org for more information.
MCAVHN Care and Prevention Network: Has a “little free pantry” where the organization shares free and fresh produce from their garden at their main office at 148 Clara Ave. in Ukiah. This location has food available on a first-come, first-served basis. MCAVHN does not have a set schedule for people to pick up produce, but they are open Monday through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact mcavhn@yahoo.com for more information.
Willits
Nuestra Alianza de Willits: Nuestra Alianza provides free and fresh produce every Tuesday from 2-4:30 p.m. at their main office at 291 School St. #1 in Willits. People can pick up food on Wednesdays and Thursdays if they are not able to make it on Tuesdays. Contact nuestra.alianza.de.willits@gmail.com for more information.
Willits Daily Bread: Provides free and fresh produce Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at 66 E. Commercial St. in Willits. Contact cindysavage6@yahoo.com for more information.
Willits Food Bank: Provides free and fresh produce Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 344 Railroad Ave. in Willits. Contact info@willitsfoodbank.com for more information.
Willits pop-up: Provides free and fresh produce every first Thursday of each month from 10-11:30 a.m. at 1250 Blosser Ln. in Willits. Contact rachelle@mendofood.org for more information.
Westport
Westport Choice Pantry: Provides free and fresh produce every third Wednesday of the month from 6-8 p.m. at 37551 N. Shoreline Highway in Westport. Contact resourcesmccf@gmail.com for more information.
This story originally appeared in The Mendocino Voice.