Community group needs fruit picking co-ordinators

Community group needs fruit picking co-ordinators around New Zealand

14 June 2012 – Community Fruit Harvesting, a group that collects fruit from back yards and orchards around New Zealand and shares it with charities, is looking for regional co-ordinators around New Zealand to manage fruit picking in their area.

The role involves promoting Community Fruit Harvesting, managing a database of local fruit trees available for picking and organising volunteer pickers when the fruit is ripe. The unwanted fruit is then delivered to the local city mission, food bank or charities so it can go to people in need.

“Often fruit goes to waste when people are elderly or disabled and can’t pick fruit from their trees, or simply don’t want to,” says Di Celliers, Auckland founder of Community Fruit Harvesting. “At other times we are offered the end-of-season produce that farmers and orchardists can’t sell. With so many people struggling to make ends meet, this is an easy, free way to help provide fresh fruit to those who really need it.

“We currently have co-ordinators and volunteers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Whangarei and Dargaville. We need enthusiastic co-ordinators around New Zealand so that no fruit goes to waste. Co-ordinators can choose to start small by picking fruit in their street or through their school, church or other group. Or if they have more time, they can manage a suburb or larger area. Every bit helps.”

As well as co-ordinators, Community Fruit Harvesting is also looking for more volunteers to pick fruit and deliver it to charity, for people to register their fruit trees to be picked and for people who can help to preserve fruit by bottling or making jams.

“We need people who have trees laden with fruit, falling and rotting on the ground, to get in touch so we can pick it for families that are hungry,” says Di.

People interested in co-ordinating fruit picking in their area, volunteering as a fruit picker, offering their tree with unwanted fruit or helping by preserving fruit, can email Di Celliers on pickfruit@xtra.co.nz .

-Ends-

© Scoop Media