Have extra fruit or vegetables you want picked for you? Or want to pick free fruit for yourself and your family, while also benefiting those in need? Harvest Rescue is the place to call.
Harvest Rescue is a program organized by the Nelson Food Cupboard where trained volunteer pickers will come to your yard and harvest fruits, veggies and any other edible goodies to share with those in need. One-third of the harvest goes to the donor, one-third goes to the volunteer picking the fruit and one-third to the Nelson Food Cupboard. The Food Cupboard will then distribute it to its members and to other social service organizations.
In its seventh year, the program is seeking more fruit tree donors. Not enough time to pick your fruit tree this summer? Volunteers will pick it, split it and clean up the compost to avoid interactions with bears. Call and register your tree in advance to avoid food waste. This will ensure that volunteers are available and will help to keep both bears and humans safe. Please note that harvest rescue cannot accept worm-infested, wind fallen, bruised or slashed fruit.
Fresh surplus produce of any kind can also be dropped off at the Nelson Food Cupboard on Mondays and Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Thank you to all of the hard-working volunteers who make this program possible and successful in our community.
Join us and become a volunteer to learn the advantages of sourcing food locally and meeting like-minded folks. Pick with your family and take home a portion of the harvest. Everybody benefits!
Interested volunteers and donors can call Sophie at 250-551-8343 (VEGE) or email her at harvestrescue@gmail.com.