42,646 pounds of fresh apples donated by Beilke Family Farms were harvested on Saturday, 12/3/11. More than half of what was picked was donated to local food pantries for the hungry and the remainder harvesters took home for their families and to share with those they know who are in need.
In just four hours 42,646 pounds of beautiful apples were harvested at Beilke Family Farms on Saturday. Late weather at the Beilke Family Farms meant that this U-Pick farm in Brooks still had apples on their trees which normally would have been picked by now. So the Beilkes and Gruetzmans invited Salem Harvest to come out to pick before the cold and wet weather set in.
Their beautifully maintained orchard and loaded small trees made for easy harvesting. 217 adult volunteers plus dozens of children quickly picked all they needed for their personal use as well as the half to donate to the hungry, and then enthusiastically headed back out to the orchard to pick more for the hungry.
Cary Takara harvesting apples from the Beilke's heavily laden trees.
Salem Harvest organizer, Rob Easton, joked that instead of orchard ladders pickers needed knee pads in order to get all the low hanging fruit and he was right.
Steve Tipton from Mission of Hope picks up 3 tons of apples to distribute to the hungry through their mobile food bank.
Salem Harvest partnered with Mission of Hope, a mobile food bank run by Silver Creek Fellowship, to help distribute these apples. Using their large box truck, Mission of Hope picked up several tons of apples which they are distributing through their mobile food bank to needy individuals and families. Thank you to Steve Tipton for his quick response to our request to help distribute the bounty. Marion Polk Food Share also sent a truck to pick up apples for their partner food pantries to distribute in emergency food boxes.
Stalwart volunteers, Mike and Linda Pantalone worked at both harvests Saturday, with Linda leaded the second harvest, and then they delivered apples in their pick-up to the needy. Melody Parr, Rebecca Greaves, Rachel Gleed, Vanessa Demoe, Rob Easton, Dick Yates, Roz Shirack, and Alicia Bay all volunteered their time and expertise to make these harvests happen. Salem Harvest runs entirely on volunteer power, so we are very grateful to them for their work.
Families picking apples by the bucket load. More than half of the harvested fruit is donated to the hungry.
Without the generosity of three generations of farmers, this incredible harvest would not have been possible. Grandfather Philip Beilke (91) and his son Terry take care of the orchard, some of which Philip planted in 1959. Together with third generation farmers, Erin & James Gruetzman, the Beilkes run this U-pick and nursery stock farm in Brooks. We are so grateful to them for their generosity. These apples will feed thousands of hungry individuals throughout the winter.
Allieviating Hunger. Building Community. Living Sustainably.
