The Fruit Tree Project

There are thousands of fruit bearing trees in Vancouver where the fruit either goes rotten or there is just too much for owners and their neighbors to eat. These wholesome delicious foods could be going to much better use- like being eaten.

I have known about an organization called "The Fruit Tree Project" for a couple of years- and finally decided to get involved this summer.

The Vancouver Fruit Tree Project is a community-based, registered charity that works to increase access to fresh local fruit in communities throughout Vancouver. They do this by connecting people who have fruit trees with people who can help harvest fruit. The fruit then is shared with local community groups, like The food bank. People who would otherwise not have access to fresh foods now will.

Last Saturday, I arrived at a cute Vancouver special off of Granville, to meet 4 other strangers and our crew captain for the afternoon. We unloaded ladders, bags, boxes and reaching/ picking implements and headed to the backyard. There in all its ripeness, the luscious cherry tree with branches so heavy with fruit they draped to reaching height. The owner said "this tree hasn't bore fruit for years.. .after we re-finished the roof last year and chopped of the tree back (aka pruned it), it can back better than ever". (Note: TAKE CARE OF YOUR FRUIT TREES).

All and all in less that 3 hours we collected over 60lbs of cherries from this single tree!

These cherries went to a food bank in the Sunrise area.

If you have a tree to share or time to pick, check out http://www.vcn.bc.ca/fruit

Adventure: Picking cherries for charity ( and eating a few- the best ones I have every tried- SO juicy)

Location: All over vancouver

Nutrition Advice: Fresh is best for everyone!