Make Sure Your Fruit Goes To
The Right Place And People With
FRUIT SAVE
Organizing volunteers to harvest urban fruit trees and share the fruit with the community.
FruitSave is a local gleaning program that organizes volunteers to harvest backyard fruit that would otherwise go to waste. This naturally grown fruit is shared between the homeowner, the pickers, the Valley’s many emergency food providers, and CGC’s programs.
Why is this project important?
95% of the food we eat on Vancouver Island is brought in by ferry, often after traveling thousands of kilometers, and yet we have one of the finest climates for growing food in Canada. Backyard fruit trees in the Valley offer tonnes of nutritious food every year, but much of it falls to the ground uneaten. Now there is a way to get this fruit to those who need it most, and to learn how easy it can be to feed ourselves with beautiful, wholesome, Cowichan-grown food!
Who benefits?
Homeowners get their fruit trees picked and windfall apples gathered for free and are left with 1/3 of the harvest. Not only will their yards be cleaner, but they can also feel satisfied that the fruit from their trees will help many people throughout the community.
Harvesters can enjoy some sunshine and gentle exercise with a friend while picking and then take home 1/3 of the fruit if they wish.
The Community benefits from the donation of fresh, local food. FruitSave supports many organizations, such as:
Get involved!
To register your tree/crop, or become a volunteer harvester, click the buttons below, and you will be directed to our registration site.
Already a volunteer harvester?
If you have any questions, please contact the FruitSave Team, at fruitsave@cowichangreencommunity.org, 250-748-8506.