The Parksville/Qualicum Fruit Tree Project is boasting about an impressive fruit haul this year, as they make sure no Oceanside fruit goes to waste, in a process known as gleaning. (Image Credit: Submitted/PQB Fruit Tree Project on Facebook)

By Jordan Davidson

no waste

Oceanside pickers providing tonnes of free fruit

Sep 20, 2026 | 10:03 AM

PARKSVILLE — A local group of gleaners have helped save thousands of kilograms of fruit from rotting away unused, providing them to the community, free of charge.

The Parksville/Qualicum Fruit Tree Project recently announced they expect to surpass the amount of fruit collected last year, with six more weeks remaining in the fruit picking season.

Executive director Dan LaRocque told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ve already collected around 3,467 kgs of fruit from Oceanside trees, with around 3,728 kgs hauled in last year.

“We take advantage of the fruit trees that are already existing in our neighbourhoods, where the fruit tends to drop to the ground and go to waste. We have a team of volunteers who will pick that fruit, and we distribute it directly to people who need it, directly from the gates of our community garden.”

The fruit, picked on private land by 30 volunteers, is then distributed through the McMillan Arts Centre community garden, at 133 McMillan St. in Parksville, where customers can take as much as they need.

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The group also has tables at the Parksville Farmers Market, which runs on Sunday mornings from May 31, until Oct. 25.

Volunteer fruit pickers mainly use their own vehicles to transport the fruit after collection, but they did receive a grant last year to purchase a pickup truck. (Image Credit: Submitted/PQB Fruit Tree Project)

LaRocque said they’re always looking for more volunteers to help out, as well as landowners who don’t want to see the fruit from their trees go to waste.

“We’ve had a huge influx of volunteers this year as well. I think it’s particularly due to the focus on food security, as well as the tightness that people are feeling in the grocery stores, the idea of watching usable food go to waste. People don’t want to see that.”

The group will also be hosting their third annual Applefest on Sunday, Sept. 27, at their McMillan St. garden from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

“We’ll do some cider pressing with a hobby machine, and we’ll do a little chicken bingo, and you know, just do some events revolving around apples.”

More information on how to get involved is available on their Facebook page, PQB Fruit Tree Project.

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by Jordan Davidson

Oceanside pickers providing tonnes of free fruit

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