Farmers in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France have reported thefts from their fields, even before the official start of the harvest season. In the village of Roquetoire, Laurianne Celers-Blanquart, a farmer at the Vallée-Roquetoire farm, discovered a stolen gardening tool at the end of August, which had been used to pull up potato plants. On September 10, she noticed another theft in her field, and a second incident occurred two days later, when a neighboring farmer caught the thieves in the act. At least fifty potato plants were stolen, weighing nearly a hundred kilograms. Celters-Blanquart described the loss as difficult to accept, especially since the field was scheduled to be opened for gleaning — the practice of collecting leftover crops after the harvest to reduce food waste. While she supports gleaning, she emphasized the importance of following specific rules to ensure it is done ethically and legally. A few kilometers away, a couple of retirees were gleaning in accordance with the rules after obtaining permission from the landowner. In the nearby village of Blendecques, Stéphane, a local resident, reported seeing a tractor pulling up potatoes and sought permission before participating in the activity. He has worked in agriculture for 42 years and stressed that he has never stolen work. Stéphane acknowledged that gleaning is an acceptable practice, but he made it clear that taking advantage of crops before the official harvest is not. At this early stage, he explained, the potatoes are not yet ready for consumption and are not suitable for gleaning. These incidents highlight the tension between the practice of gleaning and the need to respect the timing and conditions of the harvest. Farmers are concerned about unauthorized access to their fields, which can result in significant losses and disrupt the agricultural process. As the harvest season approaches, local authorities and farming communities are likely to address these issues to ensure both food waste reduction and the protection of farmers' interests.