Lush Valley Fruit Tree Program 2026

 
LUSH Valley is pleased to announce the return of its Fruit Tree Program for the 2026 season.

Since 2000, LUSH Valley has been working to support community wellbeing in the Comox Valley through nourishing, local food. The Fruit Tree Program connects community members with the abundance of fruit growing in backyards and orchards across the Comox Valley.

Each year, LUSH staff and volunteers harvest tens of thousands of pounds of apples, pears, plums, cherries, and other fruit that might otherwise go unpicked. The harvest is then shared with community organizations, students, and local families throughout the Comox Valley through LUSH Valley’s food access programs.

By recovering and redistributing local fruit, the program helps strengthen the local food system, reduce food waste, and make the most of the community orchard. The highest-quality fruit is shared through LUSH Valley’s food access programs, while fruit unsuitable for fresh eating is preserved, frozen, juiced, dehydrated, or otherwise transformed.

Despite the dedication of LUSH Valley’s volunteers, demand for fruit tree picking consistently exceeds the program’s capacity. Residents who are able to harvest fruit from their own trees are encouraged to donate their surplus harvest to help ensure more fruit is shared rather than wasted, extending the reach and impact of the program.

There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering to pick fruit, donating fruit, or registering your tree to be picked. Community members interested in volunteering or learning more about the Fruit Tree Program can visit lushvalley.org/fruit-tree.

Every piece of fruit shared through this program is part of a larger effort to build a stronger, more connected community. Community support helps sustain programs like the Fruit Tree Program, increasing access to nourishing, local food year-round.

To support this work and LUSH Valley, visit lushvalley.org/donate.