Yesterday, I volunteered at the 4th Annual Potato Drop at the Raleigh Farmer’s Market. As you’d guess, a potato drop involves a large load of potatoes dropped in one location. What you may not know is that the event raises awareness for wasted food and food recovery while distributing healthy food to those in need.
Nash Produce donated two tractor trailers full of sweet potatoes for the occasion. That’s more than 80,000 pounds of brownish-orange tubers. Close to 200 volunteers bagged the potatoes, which are then put in large containers and forklifted to tractor trailers for distribution across the state.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture donated trucks and drivers to distribute the load to food banks and homeless shelters in 20 North Carolina counties. Local food recovery agencies The Society of St. Andrew and the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle coordinated the event, which went well despite some mild June heat.
As for me, I bagged some spuds, took a bunch of photos, then bagged more spuds before sneaking off to the shady tent for some icy water. Feel free to peruse my photos of the event.
After bagging spud after spud, I started seeing things. I could have sworn this sweet potato looked like a mouse. I had to take it home to show it off, and, sure enough, my dog agreed.
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