>

Here’s why FruitShare matters

FruitShare Barrie is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to picking, sharing and enjoying fresh fruit growing in backyards throughout the city of Barrie.

The FruitShare program 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.

When a homeowner can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their tree, they let us know and we mobilize our volunteers to pick the bounty.

The harvest is split three ways:

1/3 is offered to the tree owner

1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 

1/3 is donated to the food bank, shelters, and community kitchens in the neighbourhood so that we’re putting this existing source of fresh fruit to good use.

An urban fruit sharing program has many benefits:

Improve Food Access
Increases the amount of fruit people eat, which is an important part of a healthy diet.

Increased Physical Activity
Picking fruit supports a healthy, active lifestyle.

Improved Urban Ecology
When people access local food it helps to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air quality. Maintaining our urban trees, improves storm and water management. Tree owners learn how to care for trees.

Enhanced Community Well-being
Using food and shared experience promotes positive social experience and community connections.