Want to go straight to the online registration form? CLICK HERE
The Creston Valley Food Action Coalition implemented the Harvest Share Program in 2008 as a food system recovery program. Harvest Share aims at capturing fresh produce (fruit, vegetables and nuts) that would otherwise go to waste, and making this produce available to picking volunteers and local service agencies that assist individuals in need. The program pursues different environmental and socio-economic goals:
• To reduce waste
• To reduce wildlife attractants
• To support families and individuals in need
• To reduce carbon footprint related to food consumption
The Harvest Share Program operates through community education, providing support for the harvest, recruiting volunteers, and conducting skill building workshops.
Community education
Harvest Share promotes individual responsibility and initiative by encouraging tree/garden owners to harvest their extra produce and donate it to local service agencies. Everyone deserves to eat quality food, and therefore, produce must be free of mold or insects. Here is a list of the local service agencies in Creston that accept produce donations from the public.
Please call before drop-off:
• Gleaners Food Bank: 250-428-4166
• TAPS Program (Therapeutic Activation Program for seniors): 250-428-5585
• New Life Christian Church: 250-428-5975
• Glad Tidings Church: 250-428-7418
• Lower Kootenay Band (social development/help program): 250-428-4406
Providing support for the harvest
The Harvest Share program provides support to people who are unable to harvest their fruit. The program organizes teams of volunteers to harvest produce. This service is free of charge and the harvested produce is separated three ways between the tree owners the volunteer pickers, and local social or charity organizations. Priority is given to senior people and physically or mentally challenged people. Please call ahead, before fruit is ripe, to allow picking and redistribution coordination. Ripe fruit goes bad fast!
If you have produce that needs picking please contact the Harvest Share Program Coordinator during the months of operation (between June and November), either by email at crestonharvestshare@gmail.com or by phone at 250-402-3291 to ask for volunteer help. Or, please complete our online registration form and we will be in touch.
Recruiting volunteers
People interested in helping to pick and deliver produce for a share in the harvest are invited to contact the Harvest Share Program Coordinator during the months of operation (between June and November), either by email at crestonharvestshare@gmail.com or by phone at 250-402-3291. Or, please complete our online registration form and we will be in touch.
Conducting skill building workshops
The Harvest Share Program also holds skill building workshops. In 2009 and 2010, apple juicing, pasteurization and canning workshops were held. Keep informed by being part of the Creston Valley Food Action Coalition mailing list!
Celebrating our successes
In 2010, Harvest Share volunteers harvested 17970 lbs. of produce, which contributed to significant reduction of bear attractants in Creston. This group effort also allowed 14 social and charity organizations to receive and redistribute a variety of valuable fresh produce to people in need. An additional 5300 lbs. of produce was generously donated to agencies by the Creston community.
Alexandra Dansereau, Coordinator
THANK YOU to all the people who harvested and donated their excess produce. Your gesture was so much appreciated by those who received your donation.
THANK YOU to all the 14 local social service agencies who the time to redistribute the produce to people in need.
Project contact information:
Creston Valley Food Action Coalition
Harvest Share Program Coordinator
crestonharvestshare@gmail.com
250-402-3291
Interested in starting a food rescue system in your own community?
The Creston Valley Food Action Coalition is pleased to share the Harvest Share Manual it initially created in 2008. For information on how to begin sharing the harvest in your community download the manual.
Click here to download this file.
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To volunteer as a picker or offer produce for harvesting, CLICK HERE
This project is made possible thanks to the financial assistance of the Columbia Basin Trust, the Province of British Columbia, and the Town of Creston. Thanks to the Columbia Brewery for providing boxes, and thanks to the Creston Valley Advance for their support.