Fruit Tree Project
The Fruit Tree Project aims to make use of underutilized fruit and vegetables in our community while reducing human-bear conflict.
We work with community members who have fruit trees or vegetable crops that they are unable to harvest, and coordinate a team of volunteers to help with the harvest. The harvested produce gets shared between the volunteers, the Pemberton Food Bank, and the owners of the fruit trees or vegetable crops.
Since it’s beginning, this project has donated over 15,000 lbs of fruit and vegetables! Wildsafe BC and Conservation Officers have both noted a reduction in human-wildlife conflict calls since the inception of this project, and the Food Bank has benefitted from the additional produce to distribute.
Tree Owner Sign-Up:
Whether you have a tree in your backyard or live on an old orchard, if you aren’t able to harvest your fruit we are here to help!
We are also excited to expand this project to support local farms - if you have a crop you’re unable to harvest, we can help.
Fill out our intake form, and we’ll get in touch to coordinate a harvest.
Have Questions? Send us an email at:
Want to volunteer for a harvest? Follow these steps:
Fill out our Volunteer Waiver and send it to our coordinator at megan@stewardshippembertonsociety.com (Reminder - we need a new volunteer waiver at the beginning of each year!)
View upcoming Fruit Harvests on our Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet and join us for a harvest! Check back regularly for new harvests that have been added.
Once you have signed up for a harvest, the address will be sent out to all volunteers the day prior to the event.
Make sure you’re signed up for our volunteer newsletter to hear about upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Joining a Harvest for the first time? Here are some helpful tips:
Harvest Duration: Each harvest typically lasts 1-2 hours.
Pet Policy: We love dogs too - but please leave pets at home as we’ll be entering private property.
Restroom Access: Bathrooms may not be available, so please plan ahead! :)
What You Need:
Water bottle & snack
A container to take home some fruit
Sunscreen, hat, garden gloves, bug spray etc.
Any emergency medication such as Epi Pen (if allergic to bees or other insects)
Excitement about reducing food waste!
Pemberton fruit season at-a-glance:
Cherries are the first to ripen, starting mid June through early July.
Raspberries and Blueberries follow cherries throughout July and into August.
Plums ripen between mid July and September depending on the variety!
Early Apples are often ready late July, followed by all other varieties into late September.
Crabapples ripen starting in early August through September.
Grapes are ready mid August through mid September.