
<p>About 20% of produce from Reeves Farm is turned away from grocery stores due to its imperfect appearance, not its quality. In order to prevent waste, Nolan Reeves, a 5th generation farmer, provides what’s left to local food banks–deepening his commitment to community and sustainability.</p>



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Nolan Reeves, a 5th generation farmer and owner of Reeves Farm in Baldwinsville, NY, is washing pumpkins during the end of the harvest season. He works alongside his sister, Karin Reeves, his father, Mark Reeves, and his uncle, Brian Reeves on the farm.

Deanne Fitzmaurice

Michael O. Snyder

Grocery stores typically turn away imperfect produce. While they may not take a smaller vegetable as they would have to lower the price, food banks typically will as they can place two smaller vegetables in a box in place of one larger one. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Each day during the harvest season, stores will send in orders for Reeves Farm to ship. Keeping records, orders, and other paperwork organized is a vital part of the process, but it is often overlooked by outsiders. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Sam Chapman prepares to send out the morning’s orders while the sun rises. As harvest season is wrapping up, the volume of orders is lower than the previous months, and Nolan works to sell the last of what is left so little goes to waste. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Workers at the farm sort spaghetti squash. With the end of the season nearing, vegetables that didn’t sell have started to go bad. As of now, they are directly discarded, but Nolan hopes to set up a safe composting process to better utilize inedible produce. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Farm workers crate the good spaghetti squash in hopes it can sell before it goes bad. If any have imperfections that might be rejected by grocery stores, they can be sold to food banks who benefit those in need and care less about minor superficial abnormalities. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Irrigation pumps on the Seneca River provide a secure source of freshwater. Coming into direct contact with the farm’s land, the river is a vital aspect of the agriculture process for Nolan. Further, living this close to the Great Lakes provides a sense of comfort in regards to access to water in the area. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Nolan looks for the source of dripping water caused by early morning dew while farm workers prepare a truck for one of the morning’s orders. Activity on the property is slowing down and only a few of the seasonal workers are still around. The air is becoming colder and the farm is becoming quieter. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

Nolan and his wife, Stephanie Reeves, enjoy time at home with their three dogs after a long day of work. Not only is the Seneca River an important aspect of farming, it also plays an important role in Nolan’s home life as his house is situated right on the river. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

The sun rises over Reeves Farm and the harvest moon peaks just overtop of the barn as a new day of work is slowly beginning. (Photo by Kelsey Quinn Leary)

The Alexia Fall Workshop

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WASTE TO WORTH

Produced by

Kelsey Leary

Coached by

Deanne Fitzmaurice

Michael Snyder