Community Fruit Harvest
The Community Fruit Harvest rescues unwanted fruit from private gardens in and around Ōtepoti and distributes it back to communities who need it.
Community Fruit Harvest is a nationwide, volunteer-based initiative to pick fruit (and other produce) from people’s gardens. This fruit then gets distributed back to the community and our neighbours. In a time when our country is facing growing food insecurity, a cost of living crisis and a climate emergency, creating a food resilient community is more important than ever.
CFH Dunedin has been happening for several years now. This year (2025-26) we are working in collaboration with Our Food Network. We are funded by the Lotteries Grant, Mercy Hospital and the Dunedin City Council’s Waste Minimisation initiative.
Our goal is to distribute healthy foods to our community, minimise garden waste, and help build a food resilient community.
We have diligently worked to create a private database of many of the properties with fruit trees around all areas of Dunedin. This is updated regularly, and held securely.
Register Your Fruit Trees (and Other Produce)
Got fruit?
We can’t pick fruit if we don’t have fruit trees! We take all fruits and vegetables. We prefer to pick larger quantities and won’t take food that is rotten or inedible. We will travel all around Dunedin (and sometimes outside!).
We can provide our own ladders, boxes and volunteers. You just need to tell us when and where, and if there is anything we should know about your property.
Pickers & Distributors
We need help all around Dunedin to pick the fruit. Some jobs are less labour intensive than others and don’t require heavy lifting or climbing ladders. Some jobs are suited for tamariki and families. We’d love to find opportunities for everyone, so just ask! General mobility and fitness are required. Shifts are usually announced a week before, with various times and days (it all depends on when the fruit is ready!). Picking is generally 1-2 hours, and supplies are usually provided, and carpool options are available. If a co-ordinator isn’t available to do a shift with you, they will share all of the relevant information and where to deliver the fruit to.
You get to see some amazing gardens around the community, and volunteers are welcome to take some of the fruit they pick home.
Preservers
Some of the fruit is used for preserves. Watch this space for opportunities to be involved.
Other Volunteering Opportunities
Have another way you might be able to help? Get in touch! harvest@ourfoodnetwork.org
Meet your CFH co-ordinator
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Karin Ludwig
CFH co-ordinator
harvest@ourfoodnetwork.orgKarin has a long history of community involvements across environmental and sustainability initiatives,
including community and school gardens. She has a passion for volunteering, communicating and connecting.