Every season, hundreds of Torontonians come together to share in the city’s urban abundance. From tree registrants and fruit pickers to the dedicated pick leaders who make each harvest possible.

This winter, as we celebrate another record-breaking harvest, we’re shining a light on the people who bring Not Far From The Tree to life. Meet Karen: a Pick Leader whose curiosity about local fruit turned into a commitment to reducing waste, feeding neighbours, and helping the community flourish.

How do you help build connection and teamwork among volunteers during a pick?

I always introduce myself and give Pickers an opportunity to do the same. Try to call everyone by their names throughout the pick. Ask about pick experience and comfort level, encourage Pickers to do only what they are comfortable with and encourage folks to ask for help if needed. I encourage conversation and ask questions: what they are planning to do with the fruit, current news, gardening tidbits, recipes and things like that. 

How do you think NFFTT impacts the communities you harvest in?

Tree Registrants with NFFTT are deeply committed to ensuring their fruit doesn’t go to waste, many have said exactly that. With our support, fruit that otherwise goes unpicked is harvested and shared. Some homeowners simply don’t have the equipment or ability to pick it themselves, while others can’t use the full bounty and want to share it. This generosity builds community pride and connection. 

The agencies receiving this fruit are equally appreciative. Most rely heavily on canned and processed donations and must purchase fresh produce for their clients. NFFTT helps fill that gap, providing healthy, fresh options while easing pressure on limited budgets.

By harvesting fruit that would otherwise end up in the landfill or compost, NFFTT addresses a much bigger issue: food waste. In North America, wasted food is a massive problem especially at a time when food insecurity is at an all-time high. Our work not only nourishes neighbours, but also reduces the environmental cost of waste collection and processing. With landfill space rapidly disappearing, this model of sharing and sustainability simply makes sense.

How do you hope NFFTT continues to grow in the years ahead?

I hope more people join, and the boundaries expand. It would be cool if NFFTT could start processing some of the fruit to make jams and things. Lots of people don’t know how to process the fruit into delicious eats.