With fruit season just around the corner, Lillooet Food
Matters (LFM) is starting up the Lillooet Fruit Gleaning Project once again.
The project was created in 2012 to harvest the abundance of fruit available in
Lillooet that is otherwise unwanted or unused, and to redistribute it within
the community. Through this initiative, LFM volunteers connect fruit tree
owners with volunteer fruit pickers to harvest any fruit that cannot be picked
by the owner. Fruit is then shared with the tree owner, the volunteer
harvesters, and community organizations such as the food bank.
Why should we be concerned about picking excess fruit? Through
gleaning, people gain access to nourishing whole foods, which reduces food
waste and improves local food security. Gleaning connects neighbors, bringing
our community closer together. It also reduces bear attractants in our town,
preventing human-bear conflicts and reducing the number of “problem” bears.
If you anticipate having excess fruit that you would like to
be picked, or if you would like to become a volunteer harvester, please
register with Angela by calling 256-0470. Tree owners need to register before
the fruit has ripened to allow time for us to connect you with a harvester. Upon
registration, you will be connected with a grower or a volunteer harvester to
set up a date for the harvest.
Happy gleaning!
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