USDA FOOD RECOVERY AND GLEANING INITIATIVE 
                                              Release No. 0313.97
Fact Sheet 

           USDA FOOD RECOVERY AND GLEANING INITIATIVE 

     President Clinton directed Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to lead a
federal government-wide initiative to boost food recovery and gleaning
efforts.  In November of 1996,  President Clinton directed every federal
agency to participate in an interagency working group on Food Recovery to Feed
the Hungry chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Each federal agency is
identifying ways that it can aid gleaning and food recovery efforts,
particularly focusing on donating food from federal cafeterias and determining
which existing federal programs can be better utilized to aid food recovery.

     The Administration's efforts already have boosted food recovery and
gleaning.  As a result of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill -- passed by Congress and signed into law by the President -- the donation of
recovered food has increased significantly.  The Emerson law eliminates
liability on the part of those who donate food in good faith and non-profit
entities that distribute the donated food.  Additionally, USDA sponsored a
"Summer of Gleaning" program through which 88 AmeriCorps members recruited
over 1,600 community volunteers who, in turn, recovered enough food to provide
the equivalent of over 1.34  million meals.  USDA also published the widely-
used handbook, A Citizens Guide to Food Recovery, which provides detailed
information about how individuals and organizations can get more involved in
food recovery.  A key partner of USDA, the Cooperative Extension System, also
plays a leadership role in gleaning and food recovery projects in many states.

     The USDA Food  Recovery and Gleaning Initiative builds upon the
Department's strengths.  USDA is focusing its efforts in areas where the
Department has special expertise.  For example, USDA employees are actively
working with farmers to promote field gleaning, with non-profit organizations
to ensure food safety, with service organizations aiding rural communities,
and with farmers' markets to promote food recovery.
 
     The USDA Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative empowers states,
localities, corporations, non-profit groups, and individual citizens to
bolster grass-roots food recovery efforts.  USDA is serving as a catalyst for
community based food recovery efforts by providing technical assistance,
bringing national attention to such efforts, facilitating public/private
partnerships, and, in some cases, providing limited seed money.

     For more information on the USDA Food Recovery and Gleaning Initiative:
Call 1-800-GLEAN-IT or (202) 720-6350; E-mail: jberg@usda.gov; or view the
USDA Gleaning and Food Recovery Home Page: http://www.usda.gov/fcs/glean.htm

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