Welcome to Fruit Share!
Fruit Share is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to picking, sharing and enjoying fresh fruit growing in backyards throughout Manitoba.
Check us out on Shaw TV!
How Does It Work?
Fruit Share connects fruit owners with surplus fruit with volunteer fruit pickers. These volunteers pick the fruit and share it between the fruit owners, the volunteers and community groups.
Our Goals
While minimizing food waste is a major goal of the project, Fruit Share is also about fostering a sense of community and being conscientious about sustainable, local food systems. In short our goals are to:
- minimize food waste
- foster a strong sense of community
- promote local food production
- share resources
- share knowledge of food preservation and preparation
- share knowledge of fruit tree maintenance
How did Fruit Share get Started?
Fruit Share started out of a love of fruit and dismay at seeing fresh, local fruit rotting on trees or waiting to be tossed out with the garbage. The inspiration to create Fruit Share came to Getty Stewart after she read an article about volunteer fruit rescuing operations in cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Victoria.
In the spring of 2010, Getty started Fruit Share in her South Osborne neighbourhood. That first summer, 10 volunteers harvested over 1,600 pounds of fruit at 20 picks and calls started to come in from all over Winnipeg. By their second year, Fruit Share grew to a stunning 201 volunteers harvesting over 7,300 pounds of fruit from 153 registered fruit owners.
Watch Getty tell the story of Fruit Share at TEDxManitoba, February 2012.
How is Fruit Share Funded?
Fruit Share is primarily fueled by volunteers. We have been fortunate to receive funding from some great partners and funders that believe in our efforts and want to help us get a solid start.
We are grateful for all our funder and partner support. We couldn’t do it without them!
Past Newsletters
Fruit Share Newsletter Fall 2012
Fruit Share Newsletter Summer 2012
