Peak harvest time. Pick, eat, preserve, make sauces and jams, dry, freeze, swap and give away fresh fruits and vegetables. If you can’t keep up, call your local food pantry to see if it has a backyard-harvest program. Many communities have a system for collecting excess fresh produce and making it available to families in need.U-pick time. August is prime time to support your local farmer. Do a little research on what’s available nearby and take a little road trip with some friends to harvest summer produce directly from the field or orchard.Disease prevention. Fallen fruit and rotting vegetables may be harboring next year's disease and pest problems. Don't allow spoiled produce to accumulate. Collect and toss it in the compost heap regularly.