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PHOENIX, ARIZONA:  Are your citrus trees filling up with fruit? No problem – Arizona’s food banks want your citrus donations! Food banks continue to respond to record levels of demand, and your citrus donations – grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangelos, and more – are critical sources of fresh, nutritious food for those struggling with hunger. In addition, donated citrus can be juiced to ensure a longer shelf life.

Make plans to drop off your excess citrus, free of stems and leaves, from your personal and neighborhood trees beginning January 5. Contact a food bank near you for more information about dropping off your citrus:

• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Tucson: Call 520-449-8340 or visit http://communityfoodbank.com/Programs-and-Services/Community-Food-Resource-Center/Garden-Program/Gleaning.
• Desert Mission Food Bank, North Phoenix: Call 602-870-6062 or visit www.jcl.com/foodbank.
• St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Greater Phoenix & Scottsdale: Call 602-343-5658 or visit www.firstfoodbank.org/events/6th-annual-super-citrus-saturday. This year, St. Mary’s celebrates its sixth annual Super Citrus Saturday at a variety of locations on January 24.
• United Food Bank, Mesa & East Valley: Call 480-926-4897 or visit
  http://unitedfoodbank.org/get-involved/citrus. Note that United Food Bank will not accept citrus donations until January 12.
• Yuma Community Food Bank: Call 928-343-1243 or visit www.yumafoodbank.org
• Find a Food Bank Near You by entering your zip code at www.azfoodbanks.org.  Always call in advance to make sure they will accept your citrus donations.

Most food banks do not have the ability to come to your home to glean your trees, and for the few that do, it is usually on a first-come-first serve basis in selected areas and there may be a fee. Please contact your local food bank to find out about that food bank’s specific gleaning policies.

Established in 1984, the Association of Arizona Food Banks is a private, non-profit organization serving five-member regional food banks (Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Desert Mission Food Bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, United Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank) and a network of nearly 1,200 food pantries and agencies. AAFB is one of the first state associations in the nation and an inaugural partner state association of Feeding America. AAFB was instrumental in the development of a statewide gleaning project, and our advocacy efforts have brought about beneficial state and federal legislation for our member food banks and the people they serve. For more information, to find a food bank or pantry in your area, or to learn more about donation and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.azfoodbanks.org.

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• New Arizona Law Makes it Easier for Farmers to Donate Nutritious Fresh Produce
• What to do with All that Fruit?