The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (CPFB) & Penn State Extension Master Gardeners invite you to join the Adopt a Pantry program to support community food access.

We welcome new and experienced gardeners to grow extra vegetables, herbs, and fruits to donate to the participating CPFB pantries in Lancaster & Dauphin Counties (more counties to come).

Last year gardeners in the program donated over 18,000 pounds of produce.

This year our goal is 25,000!

In partnership with

Penn State Extension Master Gardner Logo

Join us for

  • Early Spring in-person events with Master Gardeners and receive free seeds and seedlings.
  • 3 Gardening Webinars with Master Gardeners, pantry success stories, and hunger in Central PA.
  • Tours at participating pantries and guidance to grow culturally familiar produce.
  • Usage of the Fresh Food Connect app, featuring the list and map of participating pantries and their hours. It serves as a way log donations and receive personalized impact reports. In addition, the app provides gardening resources, and food safety guides.
  • Free garden signs to let neighbors know your garden is a Giving garden and encourage others to participate.
  • Access to the Master Gardeners Tip Line for gardening questions throughout the growing season.
  • A chance to connect with other Gardeners with a heart to help others.
  • A Fall Harvest Celebration to recognize the hard work of the Adopt a Pantry gardeners, share recipes, stories, and receive door prizes!

Events

  • 2/28/2026: Adopt a Pantry program Lancaster Kickoff
    The season begins with a seed distribution event on February 28 at the Farm & Home Center. If you’re in Lancaster county Click Here to Register.
  • 3/4/2026: Adopt a Pantry Program Virtual Kickoff Click Here to Register.

Why this matters

Within our service territory, 1 in 8 people (12.5%) and 1 in 6 children (16.6%) are food insecure. From 2019-2023, consumer food prices rose more than 25%. Since 2020, the cost of produce for the charitable food network has risen 94%. Donating excess garden produce or growing extra for your local pantry can help close the gap.

We are excited to partner with Fresh Food Connect. Download Fresh Food Connect and start donating your backyard bounty today!

Download on the App Store

How Fresh Food Connect works

Fresh Food Connect is a free mobile app that makes it easier for gardeners donate homegrown produce to local hunger relief partners. All participating Central Pennsylvania Food Bank pantries can be found in the app. Once you are signed up, the app walks you through the process to donate produce.

  1. Download the app and create your gardener profile
  2. Tap Schedule Produce Donation and enter what you are bringing
  3. Drop off your produce using the location and hours shown in the app
  4. Track your shared donations over time so we can see our collective impact

** Not an App user? You can use the desktop version.**

Where it is available

Fresh Food Connect is currently available through our food bank in Lancaster and Dauphin counties.

We expect to expand to additional counties in 2026.

Pantry Details

The location, hours, and other important information about each pantry are provided inside the Fresh Food Connect app. This helps keep information current as hours at pantries can sometimes shift during the growing season.

Wondering what to Grow to Donate?

If it is fresh, homegrown, and something you would serve to your own household, we would love to receive it. Think garden vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Any amount helps and adds up, from a handful of herbs to a full basket of produce.

We encourage you to get to know the specific needs of the pantry you are donating to by speaking with the volunteers and staff there. If you’d like to grow what is enjoyed by most families of many nationalities and cultures, see the shared staples list below.

Core Global Vegetables used by almost all nationalities

These are “everyone cooks with this” items:

  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • Cabbage (green/red/white)
  • Potatoes

Very Widely Used

Still extremely common across most countries:

  • Peppers (bell, sweet & chili varieties)
  • Spinach / leafy greens
  • Eggplant
  • Cucumber
  • Green beans
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Corn
  • Zucchini/squash

Regional Bridges

These may not be universal, but they link many of the cultures in PA:

  • Okra (Caribbean, African, Middle Eastern, South Asian)
  • Plantains
  • Yams
  • Radishes
  • Turnips
  • Cauliflower
  • Broccoli
  • Peas
  • Celery

Herbs & Aromatic Vegetables

Essential across cuisines:

  • Cilantro
  • Parsley
  • Green onions / scallions
  • Ginger
  • Chili peppers (fresh or dried)
  • Dill
  • Oregano

Food Safety for Garden Donations

Fresh garden produce is greatly appreciated at pantries; however, the surfaces of fruits and vegetables can harbor microorganisms that cause illness. Following these steps will help reduce the risk of contamination of fresh produce.

1. Start Smart

  • Protect your garden from pets, poultry, and wildlife as well as water runoff from roofs or compost piles.
  • Use clean, drinkable water for irrigating vegetable gardens.

2. Harvesting Safely

  • Wash hands before harvesting. Don’t harvest if you’re sick.
  • Use clean tools (scissors, knives, clippers).
  • Harvest in the morning (after foliage dries) or cooler times of day.
  • Handle gently—clip produce instead of tearing.
  • Choose quality over quantity—donate what you’d eat yourself.
  • As you harvest, place produce directly into a container that has been cleaned well before use or into containers (such as boxes) lined with chemical & scent-free plastic bags. Do not reuse plastic grocery bags and do not seal the bags.

3. Post-Harvest Handling

  • Rinse off garden soil if necessary but many fruits and vegetables, like strawberries and tomatoes, do not need to be rinsed before donating. Let the pantry know with a note, or verbally, that the produce will need to be rinsed before use.
  • If produce does need to be washed before donating, such as carrots or beets, rinse with fresh potable water. Air-dry produce before packing because moisture can speed bacterial growth and spoilage.
  • Produce should be left whole to maintain shelf life. You can remove damaged or inedible leaves (e.g., outside leaves of a cabbage)
  • Time your harvests so donations can be made shortly after harvest, the fresher the better.
  • Keep produce cool and shaded—avoid direct sun or hot vehicles.
  • If you store produce in the refrigerator, ensure it is wrapped or boxed and stored above any raw meat, poultry, or eggs. Do not store loose produce directly on refrigerator shelves or in drawers.
  • Consider donating herbs in clean plastic bags with a moist paper towel wrapped around leaf-free stems.

Need Help?

If you have questions about the Adopt a Pantry program, drop-off sites, or what to donate, we are here for you.

Email: rfisher@centralpafoodbank.org

Phone: 717-257-9919