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Anne Langebartels

About Anne Langebartels

Posts by Anne Langebartels:

Volunteers gleaning in fields at grow johnson county

Gear Up for Gleaning Season!

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What exactly does gleaning mean – no not cleaning…gleaning! If you’re unfamiliar with this weird word, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Gleaning is an age-old practice that helps provide fresh local foods to the community, so let’s dive in!

“The term gleaning is used in the agriculture industry to describe the collection of crops left in the field after all other available food has been harvested” (PostHarvest). The practice dates back centuries but is still largely relevant in modern day farming. At Table to Table, we implement gleaning into our food rescue system to provide fresh local foods for Johnson County’s food access network. Local farmers and individuals with large personal gardens reach out to us when they’ve reached their capacity for harvesting and still have good crops left in the fields. This can happen for many reasons – sometimes there is not enough people-power to harvest everything, farmers may have over-planted in case of blight, drought, or pest problems, or they may have planted cover crops to protect against erosion with no intention of harvesting them in the first place! Whatever the reason may be for excess crop, gleaning is a great way to ensure the resources used in producing the food are not wasted while getting fresh food on local tables at the same time (PostHarvest). 

Want to get involved? 

  • Volunteer with Table to Table (T2T)! 
    • We’re gearing up for prime gleaning season and could use all the help we can get! Contact volunteer@table2table.org for more information on becoming a gleaning volunteer. Gleans usually take place in the morning and last around two hours. It’s a great way to get outdoors, learn more about local foods, and get your hands dirty!
  • Grow a row!
    • Are you an avid gardener? Got a green thumb? Just like to plant things? Plant an extra row of produce of your choosing in your personal garden or community plot to donate, and when it’s ready for harvest, bring your produce to T2T or other food access organizations in the community! For more information on this, contact gleaning@table2table.org. 
  • Donate produce to Table to Table!
    • Are you a local grower with extra produce in your fields or garden? Connect with T2T to discuss potential gleaning opportunities! We’ll send a crew of volunteers to harvest your extra produce and deliver to food insecure neighbors. Contact gleaning@table2table.org for more information.

Just in Time, One Box at a Time

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How our food rescue model sets the tone for an exceptional food access network, one of the best in the state.

Every day at Table to Table, we adapt to the unpredictability of food rescue. We’ve built a system that’s flexible enough to meet the unique needs of our neighbors. At the heart of that system is something surprisingly simple: the humble banana box—absolutely central to our mission. 

Rajni with many banana boxes.

Most of the food recovery work in the US is done in two models: a model relying on huge trucks and paid staff to pick up pre-packed pallets and deliver them to a warehouse for distribution days later or a model where pantries send their own staff or volunteers to the store to collect whatever food is available that day.

Table to Table is one of the few organizations across the country that uses a route based model, and the banana box is a key part of that process. Volunteers go into a food donor store and collect the donations directly from staff. They cart it out, pack it by type into 20 or more banana boxes, and deliver it directly to food access partner, like a food pantry.

With this model we prioritize dignity, supporting our belief that both people and food have inherent value. At a partner meeting just this week, folks reported that most of the food we deliver in a day is gone within 3 hours, so we know our neighbors get food to their tables as fresh as possible. When we pack food by hand, inspecting items for quality, we’re not just moving food—we’re ensuring it’s good food, worthy of the people we serve.

And our model supports equity, too. Food recovery is unpredictable. Some days a store might only have a few boxes of bread. Other days, there might be hundreds of pounds of strawberries. In a one-store-to-one-pantry model, that can be a challenge. What if a pantry doesn’t have enough patrons for all those strawberries? What if the store has nothing that day? Our volunteers visit multiple stores, and split the food into smaller manageable boxes by food type. This allows us to redistribute resources more fairly and address needs of different communities. We can make sure those strawberries are delivered to both a Head Start program and a pantry. We can also pick up and combine several small donations to create a meaningful delivery.

The banana box allows us to respond in real time, to build equity into the system with every stop.

T2T volunteers Will and Dedi outside of van with carts of food packed into banana boxes.

Our volunteers aren’t just box packers. They’re relationship builders. They know the names of dairy managers and produce clerks. They handle each item that goes into a box. They check in when donations are low and thank donors in person. That daily presence makes a difference—this is why stores in Johnson County donate more food collectively than those in comparable communities.

When a volunteer delivers boxes to a partner, they’re not just unloading and leaving. They’re asking, “What do you need today?” They’re listening and noticing change. Then they’re reporting back, so we can adjust. This kind of real-time collaboration simply isn’t possible in a top-down distribution system. But when you’re handing a box of food directly to a recipient partner? You build trust. You stay connected.

Last year, volunteers distributed 2.7 million pounds of food. They packed more than 1,000 boxes a week, 52,000 boxes in a year. Volunteers are the reason we can respond quickly and distribute quality food equitably. You can join us. Whether by volunteering, donating, advocating, or simply sharing our story, you are a part of this network.

None of this would be possible without our community. We’re holding steady, because we’ve built a model rooted in adaptability and powered by people. But we also know that the road ahead won’t be easy. State and federal policies are shifting. Food insecurity is becoming more complex. And yet—we’re still here.

So, when folks ask me how we are going to meet this moment? My answer is: We will do it together and we will do it one banana box at a time.

In hope & solidarity, Nicki Ross -Executive Director

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Effects of Federal & State Policy Changes and How Can You Help?

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We’ve heard you ask: “How is Table to Table faring under the changes happening at the federal and state level?” and “What can we do to help?”

Proposed cuts to federal poverty relief programs like SNAP and Medicaid will impact our neighbors’ ability to meet their basic needs.

USDA foods accounted for 17% of all the food distributed by pantries in Johnson County last year. Cuts to funding for a quarter of this food have been announced. The remaining is funded in the farm bill, but we’ve seen other congressionally funded programs axed.

Iowa Hunger Coalition logo

~ Follow and subscribe to the Iowa Hunger Coalition to better understand the direct impacts on our neighbors. Use your voice to promote the importance of programs like USDA TEFAP, now, before we see those proposed cuts come to fruition. Read more about where state and federal legislation related to poverty/food insecurity are now in this letter from Luke Elzinga, chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. 

T2T recently lost funding for all of our seasonal AmeriCorps roles. These members lead our seasonal local foods programs including managing over 30 farm partnerships and recovering 10% of the fresh produce we deliver.

~ Volunteer with us. We need you now more than ever. email volunteer@table2table.org to find out the many ways we can use your help.

Our partners are facing significant funding cuts for key life saving services that can’t be replaced by community funding alone. The most recent budget proposal guts HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development funding. These programs directly fund shelter/housing services and also support local funding to 20+ community agencies including Table to Table.

~ Consider increasing your gift or signing up for a monthly recurring gift. You are our lifeline —60% of our funding comes directly from individuals and local business contributions. 

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Food Rescue = Climate Change

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When good food ends up in the landfill, not only does the food go to waste, but every resource that went into producing, processing, transporting, and storing it is wasted as well. Each step in the food production process, including disposal when it goes unbought from stores, produces harmful emissions. Food waste ultimately accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions each year. Food rescue aims to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by using food for its intended purpose – to be eaten. So far in FY25, T2T has rescued 2.2 million lbs. of food – that’s equivalent to nearly 2 millions meals provided. 2.2 million lbs of rescued food is equivalent to 3,666 metric tons of CO2 avoided, 150.29 million gallons of water saved, 9.3 million miles driven by an average passenger vehicle.

*Figures calculated with the ReFed Insight Engine Impact Calculator

Food Rescue Beyond the (Banana) Box!

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Table to Table’s Food Transportation Rescue program aims to capture good food that may go to waste as a result of being rejected by local food vendors. This can happen for any number of reasons and often has nothing to do with its quality – damaged packaging, mislabeled items, or simply too much of a product are all common reasons that vendors reject shipments even though it’s still perfectly good food. The past two years, T2T staff and volunteers have worked hard to develop this program, maintaining 17 partnerships with food transportation companies and warehouses, and successfully recovering nearly 140,000 lbs. of good food through rejected truckloads. To promote the program, AmeriCorps and volunteers designed and posted flyers in food warehouse porta potties, which has been our most successful outreach effort to date – call that creative marketing!!

Food Rescue Tales

T2T Development Coordinator Natalie Leathers and CommUnity Food Bank's Luke pose with several pallets of distilled water.In November we received 35,000 lbs. of distilled water that had been rejected due to 1 damaged jug. Not only can distilled water be drank, but it can be used for medical and cleaning purposes as well – a super unique offering that our partners were thrilled to receive!

 

 

 

T2T Dispatcher Ryan Mohwinkle and siblings with donated milk.

This March, we happily accepted a 2,030 lb. donation of milk that was rejected due to a few leaky cartons. Luckily, T2T Dispatcher Ryan Mohwinkle recruited their visiting siblings to help us clean off each carton and distribute them to our partners!

 

Love Food Fight Waste logo over background of wildflowers

Why Local Foods Matter

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Did that apple you’re eating come from five miles down the road, or is it more well-traveled than you are? Reduce your carbon footprint and benefit your health by choosing local food.

Monthly Topic Overview

Why does choosing local food matter?

“Choosing local food whenever in season and when possible, as often as possible, strengthens a community-based food system,” says Michelle Kenyon, director of Field to Family, an Iowa City-based nonprofit that works to create a healthy and sustainable local food system. “Community food systems enhance the health of our economy, environment, and our population.”

Let’s go in-depth with benefits: 

  • Choosing local food reduces transportation-associated greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Significant greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food logistics. Most conventional food travels over 1,000 miles to get to us, the consumers. (To put that into perspective, that’s like driving to Boston from Iowa City.) Almost one-fifth of carbon emissions in the food system are from burning fossil fuels to transport (and refrigerate) food via trucks, trains, boats, planes, etc. With a greater distance to travel, there’s also a higher chance of food spoiling or being damaged on its journey, leading to more food waste.
  • Choosing local food offers fresher, more nutritious options that benefit your health.
    • Food sourced locally spends much less time in transit from the farm to your plate, which means it loses fewer nutrients before you eat it. Plus, it’s fresher and tastes better. Eating local encourages you to eat with the seasons, learning when certain types of produce are at their peak for quality and taste.
    • Plus, many local farmers take environmental health into consideration when growing food, using sustainable practices to increase biodiversity and protect pollinators.
    • “‘Know your farmer, know your food’ is absolutely true, as local farmers are transparent when it comes to their growing philosophies,” Kenyon says. “Those who implement growing practices that are committed to improving soil, water, and air health are upfront about it.”
  • Choosing local food strengthens our food system.
    • When you purchase local food, you’re supporting local farming, processing, and distribution jobs, keeping your dollars in our local economy. The more of our local dollars that go into local food, the more local food is grown in our region. Those dollars invest in the future of our food supply.
    • In addition to food, agritourism supports our community’s economy. Participating in local activities like farm to table dinners, goat yoga, and apple picking ultimately support folks living and working in our communities.

How can I access local food in Johnson County?

Now that you understand the difference that eating local can make, let’s delve into how you can access local foods in Johnson County. Our community is host to a lot of quality local food options, including these listed:

  • Farmers Markets offer seasonal local foods and goods sold by our neighbors. Markets typically run May-October. Check out this list of Johnson County Farmers Markets. 
  • If you’re looking to order local foods online, Field to Family offers an Online Market from April thru December. 
  • Many local farms offer community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares for purchase. Vegetable shares are seasonal and subscription-based. Find a local CSA with this guide to Iowa CSA farms.
  • Want to grow your own produce? You can’t get more local than that!
    • Try your hand at gardening in your backyard; or, if your space is limited, container gardens kept on patios, steps, or in windows are excellent for growing your own tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuces, strawberries, and herbs.
    • Iowa City community garden plots are another great option for planting your own garden or gardening with friends.
    • Plus: share your bounty and grow an extra row to donate to Table to Table! Drop your donations off at the Table to Table office in Pepperwood Plaza, 1049 US-6 E, Iowa City on weekdays or Saturday mornings.
  • Shop local at the grocery store. Wherever you shop, check labels when you’re shopping to see where the food you’re planning to purchase came from.
Activity
  • Learn about how you can access local food in our area with Field to Family’s resources.
  • Next time you go to the grocery store, pick out three produce items and check the labels. Where are the items from? Are they local or from a faraway place?
Resources

More on local food benefits from Iowa State University

Love Food Fight Waste logo surrounded by streamers and confetti.

Celebrate Food Waste Prevention Week With Us!!!

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This month, we are partnering with Food Waste Prevention Week, happening April 7-13, 2025, to shine light on the importance of food waste reduction and to share some easy tips on how you can reduce food waste. 

The party continues through all of April as we celebrate our Love Food, Fight Waste program’s three year anniversary this month! Celebrate with us by taking action to reduce food waste.

Here are some ways to make a difference: 

    • Take our 10 Actions Challenge which offers a range of activities to participate in. Compete with your friend, family member, or neighbor this month and see who can score the most points. Click here for a link to the scorecard.
  • Get prepared for this year’s local produce season: 
    • Farmers markets offer seasonal local foods and goods sold by our neighbors. Markets typically run May-October. Check out this list of Johnson County Farmers Markets. 
    • If you’re looking to order local foods online, Field to Family offers an online farmers market.
    • Many local farms offer community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares for purchase. Vegetable shares are seasonal and subscription-based. Find a local CSA with this guide to Iowa CSA farms.
    • Want to grow your own produce? You can’t get more local than that!
      • Try your hand at gardening in your backyard; or, if your space is limited, container gardens kept on patios, steps, or in windows are excellent for growing your own tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuces, strawberries, and herbs.
      • Share your bounty and grow an extra row to donate to Table to Table! Drop your donations off at the Table to Table office in Pepperwood Plaza, 1049 US-6 E, Iowa City on weekdays or Saturday mornings.
  • Get involved with your community! Volunteer or donate to the organizations who are reducing hunger through food rescue. 

You may also bring items to Table to Table to be delivered throughout the local hunger relief network!

LFFW News Release Graphic (8)

2025 Johnson County Food Waste Profile

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According to the 2022 Iowa Statewide Material Characterization Study conducted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, approximately 20.4% of what ends up in the Iowa City Landfill is food waste. In 2022, the Iowa City Landfill properly landfilled 130,109.46 tons of garbage from our service area – Johnson County, Kalona, and Riverside. Of that, about 26,542 tons was food waste. 

Why do we want to reduce food waste and keep food out of the landfill?

When food is wasted, it wastes all the resources that went into growing, manufacturing, distributing, and transporting that food. At the landfill, once garbage is compacted into place by trained Landfill Operators, there is no air (oxygen) or light in a landfill hole. This is the perfect environment for methane, a very potent greenhouse gas, to be produced in the absence of oxygen and in the presence of so many organic materials (food waste). One of the best things each of us can do to take climate action is to reduce food waste.

A great alternative for food waste disposal is composting. While we encourage good, edible food to be eaten as the first priority, we will always have the inevitable banana peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds that we want to responsibly dispose of. Composting is a great option for those items! For a deep dive into composting, check out this deep dive into composting. 

Who is recovering food in Johnson County?

T2T saw up to a 60% increase in the amount of food rescued annually between 2017 and 2022. And that growth has continued! Since 2022, Table to Table has continued to increase the amount of food rescued throughout Johnson County.

Table to Table manages a complex food rescue network throughout Johnson County involving more than 100 food donors and nearly 50 recipient organizations. Food donors include area stores, warehouses, processors, restaurants, farms, markets, and gardeners that donate their unsold or excess food to Table to Table. T2T volunteers deliver this food directly to organizations that are serving our neighbors in need so this food reaches people as quickly as possible.  Our partners report that most T2T food makes it to our neighbors’ homes within 6 hours of our daily deliveries. These organizations include food pantries, shelters, hot meal sites, and youth programs that connect rescued food to our neighbors. Ultimately, people rescue food by eating it: using it for its intended purpose!

In 2024, T2T recovered 2.7 million pounds of food, redirecting it throughout our community where it was needed and feeding more than 22,000 people. More than half of this food is produce, protein, and dairy. Recall that some of the most commonly wasted foods are produce, dairy, and bread. T2T is making a huge local impact in these most-wasted categories!

T2T rescued food provides about half the total food that the three largest local pantries distribute. Plus, recovered food helps provide more options, including vegan and gluten free foods and a variety of produce grown locally.

 

Activities

  1. Help us rescue food in our community! Table to Table is currently in need of fleet and facilities volunteers to help prep vans for food rescue routes, route substitutes for Saturday mornings, and we have a few weekly route positions available if you are looking for a routine volunteering gig. We will also be looking for volunteers to help harvest veggies in farm fields this summer! We have an amazing volunteer network, and we would love for you to join us! Visit table2table.org/volunteers, email volunteer@table2table.org, or call 319-337-3400 for more information
  2. Educate yourself on local options to donate extra food and personal care items. Here are just a few wish lists from organizations serving our neighbors:

 

Resources

Love food fight waste logo centered on background of various food water reduction images.

Ring in the New Year with Love Food, Fight Waste!

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Happy New Year! Make food waste reduction a part of your New Year’s resolutions! 

Follow one or more of these five tips to have a meaningful impact this year. Reducing food waste saves you money, preserves landfill space, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and more! 

1. Make a shopping list

Before heading to the grocery store, shop your kitchen. Inventory which food items you already have in the refrigerator and pantry to avoid buying duplicates.

What meals or dishes do you plan to make this week? Identify which ingredients you will need and add them to the list.

2. Freeze food you won’t use right away

Package food in portion sizes before freezing. This makes it super easy to take out of the freezer and heat up for a quick meal later!

3. Save the bread!

Storing your store-bought bread in the fridge extends its life up to 2 weeks and preserves quality. (Source: USDA)

Freeze bread that you won’t use right away. Frozen bread will keep for up to 3 months. (Source: USDA)

Get creative with stale bread! Make croutons, breadcrumbs, French toast, bread pudding, stuffing, and more with stale bread. Here are a few sources for recipes: 

Insanely Good Recipes

The Kitchen Community

4. Look at it, smell it, taste it

Did you know that the dates stamped on food are not safety dates? The only food item where the date should be strictly followed is baby formula. Except for baby formula, most dates are indicators of best flavor and peak quality. 

Before tossing a food item that is past the “best by” date…

  1. Look at it – do you notice any of these characteristics indicating it may be past use or spoiled? (Source: Taste of Home)
    • Moldy
    • Slimy film
    • Pale, greenish tint, or discoloration
    • Texture – produce wrinkled or caving in, or pasta congealed
  2. Smell it – does it smell funky?
    • Rancid foods can have a similar appearance as when they were bought but smell sour. (Source: Ricardo Cuisine)
  3. If you can’t tell by smell and sight, a last resort can be giving it a small taste.
    • Foods that have gone rancid will usually have a sour or acidic flavor. (Source: Healthline)

Pick up our magnet all about how long food lasts past stamped dates at these locations during open hours: 

  • Table to Table office: 1049 US-6 E. Iowa City, IA 
  • City Hall front desk: 410 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA

5. Date your leftovers

Mark opened food containers and leftovers with a date of when they were opened or prepared to help keep track of how soon items need to be used up.

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