Salem Harvest’s existing truck, Sunflower, carries a load of apples. (Courtesy/Salem Harvest)

Sunflower, a hardworking truck that’s hauled thousands of pounds of local produce, will soon be getting some help.

Salem Harvest recently met their fundraising goal to purchase a second truck to help volunteers salvage produce from area farms that would otherwise go to waste.

After setting a $7,000 fundraising goal for the month of December, Executive Director Elise Bauman said donations were up to $8,334 as of Thursday.

The donations will trigger a $7,000 match from Salem residents Craig and Cherie Cline, allowing the harvest to buy a 4×4 truck. The intention is to have a smaller vehicle that can more easily move between rows in the field and allow the harvest to work on two farms simultaneously.

Bauman said donations rapidly increased following a Dec. 8 Salem Reporter article about the harvest’s most recent season and their expansion plans, with about $1,200 donated the morning after publication.

She does not yet have a name picked out for the second vehicle and said it will depend in part on its color.

-Rachel Alexander

By Salem Reporter