FRUIT TREE & FARM GLEANING PROGRAMS
The Fruit Tree and Farm Gleaning programs engage hundreds of volunteers in harvesting thousands of pounds of fresh fruit and produce from homes, farms, and orchards around the Comox Valley.
Whether you have excess fruit to give, or you’re looking to join our team of harvesters, getting involved is easy, fun and requires no long-term commitment.
GET INVOLVED
Join us on a fruit pick! Become a member of our Volunteer Hub to hear about fruit picking opportunities by email.
The program offers several benefits to our community that include:
- Increased access to healthy, local food
- Reduced interactions with bears and other wildlife
- Decreased emissions from food waste
Through the Fruit Tree program:
- 1/3 of the harvest goes to volunteers
- 1/3 of the harvest goes to tree stewards
- 1/3 of the harvest is shared with the community through LUSH Valley programs
What does LUSH Valley do with its portion?
High quality, unblemished A-Grade fruit is distributed to community members through a number of LUSH Valley programs including Good Food Box and Hot Meal. Fruit is also shared with community partner organizations that include K’ómox First Nation, School District 71, Comox Valley Affordable Housing Society, Comox Valley Family Services Association and Comox Valley Transition Society.
B-Grade fruit may be too small or blemished to be eaten as-is, but still holds great value! Fruit containing only minor bumps and bruises may be processed and used in LUSH Valley’s food preservation and catering efforts, while significantly blemished fruit is quickly pressed into juice and sold to raise funds for the organization.
If you have trees you would like LUSH Valley to pick, please complete the form below.
