AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — The scales are open for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Grow More, Give More 250 Pound Challenge. This statewide effort invites gardeners to grow extra this season and share the bounty with people in need. The challenge also celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary while giving Alabama gardeners one more reason to put their summer harvest to work.

From Memorial Day May 25 through Labor Day Sept. 7, Alabama Extension is challenging every county to grow and donate at least 250 pounds of fresh produce. The effort is rooted in the same community spirit that launched Grow More, Give More during the COVID-19 pandemic, when home gardeners were encouraged to plant an extra row and pass along what they picked. Today, the program continues to pair research-based growing advice with simple ways for gardeners to share the fruits — and vegetables — of their labor close to home.

“People can grow produce in several acres or in several containers on their back porch,” said Bethany O’Rear, an Alabama Extension home horticulture agent at Auburn University and leader of the Grow More, Give More project. “When it’s time to harvest, set the extra aside to donate. Every pound counts, whether it goes to a local food bank, community kitchen, place of worship or even a family member or neighbor in need. It’s a simple way to let your garden do a little more and share the harvest with others.”

Make it Count

The challenge is open to gardeners of all experience levels, from first-time growers to seasoned hands. Recommended crops include beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, southern peas and okra. These are all dependable choices for Alabama gardens and generous producers once summer gets rolling.

Participants are encouraged to weigh each donation and report it through the Grow More, Give More donation form, so every tomato, pepper and basket of squash can count toward county totals and the statewide tally. To report donations, visit aces.edu/go/250Challenge.

The challenge builds on a program with a strong record of impact. In 2025, Grow More, Give More participants donated 21,563 pounds of produce, helping more than 3,000 Alabama families. With counties across the state joining in, Extension leaders hope the 250 Pound Challenge will spark friendly competition, strengthen local food networks and show that even one extra row can grow into something big for communities across Alabama. For more information on the program, visit the Alabama Extension website at aces.edu.