But with food prices expected to increase as much as 5.5 percent this year, she’s thinking of better things to do with her berries than let them go to the birds.

Anticipating a tough winter for low income people, Beckett sent out e-mails to members of the Midland Residents Association, asking them to plant extra food they could sell, trade or give to food banks.

She now has about two dozen residents in the area southeast of Tacoma growing food and participating in what she’s dubbed the Get Growing Midland program.

Members of the group don’t want to see their neighbors go hungry or lack fresh food if there’s a winter shortage, said Beckett, the vice president of the Midland Residents Association board.

“There’s already people I know who are quitting their jobs because they can no longer afford to put gas into their cars to get to work,” said Beckett, 59. “How are they going to be able to afford food this winter?”

Later in the year, the residents want to organize a market where people can sell extra produce for cheaper than at the supermarket. They’re encouraging people without gardens or yards to try container gardening – growing vegetables in pots.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects food prices will increase by 4.5 to 5.5 percent during 2008. Prices already increased 4 percent between 2006 and 2007.

A STRUGGLE LOCALLY

Local food banks are starting to feel the pinch. In April and May, the Emergency Food Network served 19 percent more people than it did during the same period last year, without increasing the total amount of food it gave out. The group provides food for 70 food banks in Pierce County.

“We’re distributing the same amount of food, but there’s more people who need it,” said Gina Breukelman, the organization’s development director. “People have the same amount of money, which isn’t going as far as it used to.”

Visits to the FISH Food Banks in Pierce County have increased by 29 percent since last year, said Beth Elliott, director of the group of eight food banks. Often people come and can’t get the items they wanted, Elliott said.

“We don’t turn anyone away, but we may not have the amount of food to give out that we might at other times,” Elliott said. “We may be out of peanut butter at one time, or we may be out of rice.”

THE GOAL: DON’T WASTE

That’s why Beckett and members of her group want to sell their extra cucumbers and carrots cheaply in their own neighborhood: Doing so would eliminate price inflation caused by hauling in food from elsewhere.

They are looking at locations like unused gravel lots along Portland Avenue or possibly the Southeast Tacoma Community Center parking lot. If there’s enough interest, Beckett hopes to have the market up and running in September.

“People will bring down their extra vegetables and go home,” Beckett said. “No one’s going to make much more than $10. The goal is just not to waste food. Don’t just throw it in the compost pile.”

People who aren’t interested in selling their produce are encouraged to donate it to a food bank.

Lifelong gardener Shirley Foster, 77, said she’s seen how thankful food bank workers are for fresh produce. She donated 10 pounds of tomatoes last year and said she’s happy to do it again as part of Get Growing Midland.

She usually has pounds and pounds of extra squash and zucchini, even after she shares them with neighbors and relatives. She’ll be taking what’s left to the food bank this year.

“Every little bit helps,” Foster said. “I just want to share.”

Melissa Santos: 253-552-7058

How to help

Contact Cindy Beckett at cindybecket@gmail.com">cindybecket@gmail.com to get involved in Get Growing Midland, or a backyard gardeners market. Residents of all communities are welcome to participate.