THE GORGE — “Our mission is to build a resilient and inclusive food system that improves the health and well-being of our community,” reads the mission statement of Gorge Gleaning, a local nonprofit run by Gorge Growers.

THE GORGE — A decade-old program is gathering the produce Gorge-area farms can’t harvest and gifting everything from cilantro to blueberries t…

The Columbia Gorge Gleaning Project connects those experiencing hunger to local, farm-fresh produce. The need is high — one in three residents of the Gorge are food insecure — yet produce left in local fields is abundant. According to Feeding America, nearly half of the food grown, processed and transported in the U.S. goes to waste.

Columbia Gorge Gleaning held a kick-off event on Aug. 13 .