FruitShare Barrie has now launched its second season following last year’s highly successful pilot project. FruitShare connects volunteers with tree owners to harvest otherwise wasted fruit and share it with the Food Bank. The launch was held at a Barrie home with apple and pear trees in the backyard.
At the launch was Bonnie Collacutt of Transition Barrie, who spoke about improving community resilience and food security.
Naomi Wachowiak, Public Health Nurse from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, highlighted the importance of increasing access to safe, healthy, and affordable food.
Peter Tretter of Living Green spoke about the benefits of bringing neighbours together to preserve Barrie’s urban tree canopy.
Peter Sundborg of the Barrie Food Bank shared his firsthand experience of the importance of providing local organic produce to the thousands Barrie residents who rely on the Food Bank each year.
Ward 8 Councillor Arif Khan showed his support and shared stories of his family’s food traditions. Arif Khan and Peter Sundborg officially launched the 2014 FruitShare season by picking the first pears.
Anyone interested in sharing fruit, volunteering to pick or donating equipment can visit the website at http://fruitsharebarrie.ca/ and click on Get Involved.