Kristina Guttadora gleans collard greens with Farmers Against Hunger, a New Jersey Agricultural Society charity program, at Jim and Sue Giamarese Farm in East Brunswick. JACK RABIN New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie has recognized Kristina Guttadora of Allentown, program director of Farmers Against Hunger and executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society, as the fifth New Jersey Hero for 2015 and the 36th Hero overall.
Guttadora was one of three New Jerseyans nominated for their respective hunger prevention efforts across the Garden State and beyond, according to a press release.
“Our state is well served by so many individuals and organizations committed to helping those in our communities who need it most,” the First Lady said. “Through Farmers Against Hunger, Kristina Guttadora has assembled a remarkable support team –from regular volunteers to Garden State farmers – who are helping to provide access to freshly harvested fruits and vegetables for families in need. Kristina is a fine example of how New Jerseyans are making a difference in the lives of others and I am proud to name her as our August New Jersey Hero.”
The New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger (FAH) program has been “harvesting for the hungry since 1996.” In 2011, Guttadora, a Rutgers graduate, took over as the organization’s program director, according to the press release.
“This has been a tremendous opportunity for New Jersey Farmers Against Hunger to reach a wider audience and to gain new supporters, volunteers and people interested in supporting fresh produce hunger relief,” Guttadora said. “We have a huge network of support – from agricultural organizations and farmers to those who believe everyone should have access to fresh produce. We can only hope to continue to stay connected to this wider audience and continue expanding our fresh produce and gleaning distribution program. We look forward to working with many new volunteers and supporters as a result of this experience.”
As a collaborative organization, FAH currently helps more than 70 partner agencies, including state food banks, soup kitchens and pantries, by providing free donations. “Glean teams,” engaging 1,200 community volunteers annually, come to local farms to help harvest extra produce which may otherwise be plowed underground.
Annually, FAH works to collect 1.3 million pounds of food from farms, grocery stores and wholesale suppliers.
This is the third New Jersey Hero being determined by the public via an online poll posted to the New Jersey Heroes website. There were more than 36,000 votes cast overall for August’s New Jersey Heroes candidates, according to the press release.
New Jersey Heroes is an initiative the First Lady began in 2010 to showcase the positive and unique ways people and organizations are impacting New Jersey and their communities.