Gleaning group gives £1m of produce to food banks

Gleaning Cornwall relies on volunteers to reduce food waste on farms

A gleaning group has saved £1m worth of fruit and vegetables that would have been left in field and donated them to food banks.

Gleaning Cornwall relies on volunteers to collect unwanted produce from harvested fields, delivering it to 160 food banks, community larders and kitchens across the South West.

Despite reaching the seven-figure milestone, the group has warned more funding is needed in order to keep up with demand.

Reliance on food banks is increasing and since 2015 the number of known settings providing food aid in Cornwall has risen from 20 to 180, according to Cornwall Council.