BARRIE, Ontario, 10/19/2015 -

FruitShare Barrie is in the midst of wrapping up its highly successful third season. The project was launched in 2013 by Living Green Environmental Action Barrie in partnership with Transition Barrie and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. Volunteers harvested over double the amount of fruit as last year and 80% of the harvest was donated to the Food Bank and other social service agencies. In total FruitShare has harvested over 10,000 pounds of fruit since it started.

Over 50 volunteers participated throughout the season, picking over 60 trees in Barrie backyards. More than 25 new homeowners signed up to share their fruit. One homeowner, Lee Ann, expressed her appreciation: “I’m so glad I found out about FruitShare. I’m unable to pick all the apples and it would pain me to see them go to waste!”

FruitShare has expanded its circle of social service agencies that receive the collected fruit. The Barrie Native Friendship Centre has partnered to help with fruit picking as well as receive donated fruit which they use in run community cooking workshops.

A new feature of this year’s program is the donation of homemade food to those in need. FruitShare volunteers made jams, jellies, and tarts with the fruit they harvested and donated them to social service agencies that accept homemade foods.

FruitShare now offers free tree care advice to assist homeowners with maintaining their trees. A local arborist has offered to help maintain and prune trees – an exclusive benefit for FruitShare homeowners. Thanks to James from Timberjack Tree Services for helping to maintain local trees and prevent them from being cut down.

The community can look forward to tree planting in the spring of 2015. FruitShare is working in collaboration with the City of Barrie to plant another part of the ‘food forest’ in Barrie. Residents can enjoy free fruit for the taking years to come.

Despite these successes FruitShare is seeking local business sponsors to help cover the costs of the program, which is run almost entirely by volunteers. FruitShare would be happy to tell the community how supportive they are with recognition on the brochure and lawn signs. Potential sponsors can call 705-715-2255. Donations can also be made through the website at http://fruitsharebarrie.ca/.

The FruitShare Steering Committee would like extend a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers, donors and partners for their continued support of the program. 

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