International Gleaning Symposium
2027
The 2027 International Gleaning Symposium will be in Nashville, Tennessee, May 19-21, 2027. We are pleased to be hosting this event with the Society of Saint Andrew. The Call for Proposals is now accepting responses through October 31, 2026.
This year we are making a change to the agenda to promote more in-depth opportunities for teamwork on a focused set of topics. You can see the outline for the revised agenda here. In this call for proposal, we are looking for proposals from members to lead an entire track of programming, not just a one-hour workshop, but a day and a half of programming on a single topic. The agenda notes possible ideas for Tracks including Volunteer Management, Fundraising, Gleaning Leaders and Staff Recruitment, Retention & Development but these are only suggestions. We welcome your ideas for a topic area. For 2027, AGO is looking for leadership for a multi-day track focused on a single topic. Leaders will present materials, organize workshops and moderate a panel. We recognize that this is a significant body of work, so we are able to offer a stipend to track leaders.
If you have questions about the new structure or ideas you would like to share in advance of completing the proposal, reach out to shawn@gleaners.us.
What's the issue?
There are 41 million people who go hungry in our country every day, and there are many more who can’t afford to eat nutritious foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. It is well documented that those who don’t, or can’t, eat nutritious foods are more vulnerable to serious health complications. To make matters worse, 10 million tons of fresh, quality fruits and vegetables are going to waste via our nation’s farms each year.
What we are doing about it.
Each year, organizations, lawmakers, and food waste activists from around the country will unite to initiate and inspire action that will build the bridge between food waste and hunger on a national level. Gleaning organizations around the country have begun to plant and nourish seeds that have the potential to grow into solutions to both food waste and equitable nutrition. Gleaning is the act of harvesting produce (farms, gardens, backyards, etc.) before it goes to waste and providing it to those in need.
This conference is part of a larger effort of our association to grow the gleaning movement to improve and increase the nutritional value of food accessible to our most vulnerable community members. We know we are strongest when we work together and share knowledge and resources freely. Together, we are striving to build a movement that understands the importance of not just the calories provided, but the abundance of benefits that come with access to nutritious food
2027 Symposium Details
Lodging
Symposium registration will open in December 2026. Your registration will include lodging at the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville.
High Level Agenda:
Wednesday, May 19, 2027
Afternoon field trip
Organized Meet & Greet
Thursday, May 20, 2027
7:30 am Coffee and Light Breakfast
9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Workshops. Agenda to follow. Lunch included with registration fee.
Evening Activities. Attendees will have a choice of evening activities with small groups showcasing the musical and cultural diversity of Nashville. All activities are not included in the registration fee.
Friday, May 21, 2017
8:00 am. Coffee and light breakfast
9:00 am – 3:30 pm Workshops. Lunch included with registration fee.
Recordings from the Archive
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