The idea
Every autumn, in and around Swansea, a paradox unfolds.
Fruit, particularly apples, grow abundantly while food poverty is widespread. For many, fresh fruit is an expensive luxury while much of our own locally grown fruit is wasted. We're all familiar with the sight of trees left unpicked, their fruit decaying on the ground. We aim to harvest the fruit from these trees and share it with the people who need it most.
We've partnered with Fare Share to collect and distribute the fruit to 24 organisations addressing food poverty including Matt's Cafe, the East Side Food Bank and Unity in Diversity. So far we've publicized the project via social media and people have sent us over 70 tree sites. The project now requires more administration and specialized equipment. When we're not using it, this will live at the Environment Centre Tool Library, to be borrowed by the public.
Unless we raise all the money we get nothing, so every pledge really counts. Thank you for whatever you can give.
What we'll deliver
- Step ladders and fruit picking equipment available for public use at the Swansea Environment Centre Tool Library
- Approximately 3000 kg of apples delivered to Swansea food banks
- A collective activity that will be a focus for community action and a source of wellbeing.
Why it's a great idea
We're putting two problems together, food poverty and surplus fruit, and using one to help reduce the other! And these fruit are extra good. As they're often grown from neglected trees they are typically pesticide free and because they're local, they don't have the heavy carbon footprint of fruit grown elsewhere. Most of the fruit we'll pick will be apples and apples are a really popular food! They're a handy, portable, sweet snack and delicious cooked in crumbles, tarts, cakes and chutneys. Plus they're nutritious. They're high in fiber and a good source of potassium and vitamin C. When fruit are left to decay they release methane, a greenhouse gas. By picking them, we'll stop this happening and reduce the nuisance associated with fallen fruit. We'll be turning what would otherwise waste into a valuable resource, working together to contribute to the development of a circular economy in Swansea.
Steps to get it done
- Buy the harvesting equipment
- Distribute publicity materials
- Get all permissions from private landowners and the Council
- First harvest of ripe fruit
- Fare Share begins pick up and distribution
We're hoping to rent a large juicing press to make juice from the apples that Fare Share can't take. Anyone could bring their own fruit too and make their own juice or cider! We've also got plans to work with Fare Share to organise a gleaning project in the summer and we're looking into making apple based products to share or sell such as apple cider vinegar and apple chutney.
