Summer Fruit Wanted for Charity

Community Fruit Harvesting is asking Aucklanders with unwanted plums and other summer fruit in their back gardens to get in touch so the charity can pick the fruit for the hungry.

The group collects fresh fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste and gives it to charities who share it with people in need.

Plums and berries are currently in season, with nectarines, peaches, apricots, feijoas, figs, persimmons and early season apples and pears ripening in the next few months.

“This plum season is proving to be much better than last year – we’ve already picked four trees and had over 200kg from just one tree!” says Di Celliers, Auckland Community Fruit Harvesting Co-ordinator. “The fresh fruit goes into food parcels via the Auckland City Mission and Salvation Army and is also turned into jam and chutney so nothing goes to waste. If you have fruit on your tree now that you can’t use or you know that fruit will be ripening soon, please let us know.”

Community Fruit Harvesting is also calling for people with unpicked orchards to step forward and offer the fruit to charity. The charity also welcomes enquiries from new volunteers who can pick or deliver fruit or make jam and preserves, as well as any donations of sugar for jam-making.

“Picking fruit and making jam is a great activity for the whole family and it feels good to give to those less fortunate,” says Di. “We also get businesses volunteering their time or making a donation – nothing builds a team better than working together for a good cause.”

People with a fruit tree available for picking or who want to volunteer to pick fruit or make jam can email Di Celliers on pickfruit@xtra.co.nz . Donations can be made to National Bank, account number 06 0122 0292304 00.

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