Coffee Chats take place once a month and the topic is decided ahead of time. While there is no formal format, and each chat is based around the needs of that topic, generally you can count on outside professionals, speakers, and/or experts in specific areas speaking for the first half of the call. The second half is your time to ask questions, connect with, and learn from one another.  All Coffee Chats are (10am PT/11am MT/Noon CT/1pm ET). 

Coffee Chat Schedule 

• September 24, 2026.  Board recruitment and effective Board operations can make an organization.  Hear from Alexandra White of Produce Good on how to optimize your non-profit Board.  Register here. 
• October 22, 2026. Data management is a huge challenge for gleaning organizations.  Hear an update from the creators of the Common Fruit platform on how the application, designed specifically for gleaners has evolved. Register here.
• December 10, 2026 Deb Hicks of Boston Area Gleaners will share the successes and challenges of the BAG Apprenticeship program.  Register here. 
• January 28, 2027. Julianna Ritzu completed her Master’s degree thesis for the University of London looking at gleaning in the US.  Julianna will share insights gained by her research, how US gleaning organizations differ from those in Europe and updates on her current research.  Register here. 
• February 25, 2027.  Partnering with a Local Pantry.  Hear from Portland Fruit Tree Project and Bethlehem House of Bread about the benefits and challenges of building cold storage and a distribution channel with a local pantry.  Learn how to get started and how the relationship has flourished. Register here. 

If you missed the previous topics, you can listen to the recordings:  

• August Coffee Chat. From uncommonly hot summers to spring flooding, farmers and gleaners are challenged to respond to the changing climate.  Billy Mitchell of the University of Florida led a discussion about how to keep your staff and volunteers safe. Listen here. 
• July Coffee Chat. Brandy Collier of Eugene Area Gleaners and Morgan Curry of Skagit Gleaners discussed how Membership models are not only a source of raising revenue for gleaning programs but also a tool to create community. Listen here. 
• June Coffee Chat.  Giselle Bandley of the Utah State University Glean Team and LeAnn Baran of Skagit Gleaners discussed how their organizations are participating in the circular economy and serving their communities with innovative sharing programs. Listen here.
• March Coffee Chat Engaging with Local Businesses.  Join these gleaners who have been successful in getting local businesses to host corporate gleans and more with Robynne Ryals, CROS Ministries, Hillary Hust-Barber, Salvation Farms and Pamela Zamora Mayne, Reno Gleaning Project. Listen to the recording here. 

All recordings of past Coffee Chats and Symposium Presentations can be found at the Archive pages of this site.