Originally published July 26, 2025 in the Yakima Herald-Republic. Minor edits have been made for web publication and accessibility.
by Kelly Klingman
Are you a tomato whisperer, but no one else in your family really likes tomatoes? Do you end up with so many zucchini that you are dropping them on your neighbors’ doorsteps in the dark of night? Do you have a crop of something that always decides to ripen just before you leave town for a week’s vacation and you won’t be able to eat it before you go? Or maybe you have a spot in your yard that for whatever reason, currently has no crops, flowers or grass growing on it?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the ‘Plant a Row for the Hungry’ program is for you!
With the rising costs of food, we all know that families in our community will struggle even more to afford fresh and healthy produce. Plant a Row for the Hungry helps bring residents together to plant, grow, harvest and donate produce to fill a need and fight hunger in the Yakima Valley.
Jeff Lowenfels founded the the ‘Plant a Row’ program in the early 1990’s in Anchorage, Alaska. There was a soup kitchen in Anchorage that fed hungry Alaskans called ‘Bean’s Cafe.’ Lowenfels was an Anchorage garden writer. In his column, he encouraged his readers to dedicate just one row of their garden’s production to donate to the soup kitchen. And just like that, ‘Plant a Row for Bean’s’ was created.
In 1995 the Garden Writers of America found out about the program and rechristened it ‘Plant a Row for the Hungry.’ Garden writers across the country spread the word. Since then more than 20 million pounds of produce has been donated under the ‘Plant a Row’ name. That is more than 80 million meals donated by gardeners just like you.
So how can you become involved? It is super easy. Just grow one extra plant, vine, or a whole row in your garden or in a container. Put that bare spot in your yard to good use (if left bare, you know it will just grow weeds). Then donate the harvest to one of our many local food banks that accept fresh produce.
Did you know that children are more likely to eat more vegetables if they have a hand in growing them? Have you ever seen that gleam in a child’s eye when they know they are helping someone, or the emotion in their faces when they see themselves making an impact? Try growing a plant or two with them specifically to donate. Then take them with you to the food bank to drop off. Children involved in things like this now become adults invested in their communities later. And isn’t that, and quality time with them in the garden, worth the cost and time it takes to grow a tomato plant?
You may be thinking, “What are 3 peppers going to do for an entire food bank in Yakima?” Well, if you bring in 3 peppers, one family can take home 3 peppers. But what if ten people bring in 3 peppers? That’s 30 peppers. Every little bit makes a difference.
Over 13% of Americans are food insecure. That is over 47 million men, women and children. It is estimated that 55% of US households have a garden. That is around 71 million households and 185 million people. 41% of those now grow food. That is over 54 million households. Now imagine if each of those households brought in 3 of something and the difference we could make working together to help our communities.
To find where and when you can drop off produce donations at local Yakima Valley food banks: