In 2021, the Tofino Community Food Initiative is piloting a Fruit Gleaning Program in the communities of Tofino & Ucluelet, in partnership with WildSafeBC. Fruit Gleaning Programs rely on the participation of fruit tree stewards and the power of volunteers to gather local fruit that would otherwise go to waste (or to the bears!).

Through education and volunteerism this program aims to ensure that fruit tree stewards are able to properly tend and harvest from their trees in a timely manner - before the fruit becomes a bear attractant. A volunteer ‘Glean Team’ provides coordinated efforts to share the knowledge, resources and physical help that some tree stewards require. The fruit is then harnessed as a valuable local food source, providing produce to fruit tree stewards & volunteers, ingredients for skills-based learning in food preservation, and made into value added products for the community.

Are you a fruit tree steward that would be interested in having our glean team help with your harvest?Would you like to join our Volunteer Glean Team? Sign up below!