From Seed to Success: Fruit Share Adelaide's Remarkable First Year
In the summer heat of January 2024, a small group of dedicated volunteers began what would become one of Adelaide's most impactful food rescue initiatives. Armed with picking poles, crates, and a vision of reducing food waste while supporting those in need, Fruit Share Adelaide embarked on its first harvest. None of us could have predicted just how much this seedling of an idea would grow over the next twelve months.
Creating Lasting Impact
Fruit Share Adelaide has created multiple positive impacts across our community:
Reducing Food Waste
By rescuing over 11,650kg of fruit that would have otherwise gone to waste, we're helping to reduce the environmental impact of food waste while preserving valuable resources.
Fresh Food Access
We've helped bridge the gap between abundance and need, ensuring that fresh, nutritious fruit reaches those who need it most through our network of 50 food relief organisations.
Building Connected Communities
Our initiative has brought together:
Generous fruit tree owners sharing their surplus
Dedicated volunteers giving their time and energy
Food relief organisations providing vital distribution networks
Local councils and businesses supporting community action
Community Education
Through our workshops, events, and social media presence, we're helping people learn about:
Proper fruit tree care and maintenance
Sustainable urban agriculture
Food waste reduction
Local food security
The Journey to Establishment
What started as an informal community initiative quickly blossomed into something much bigger. By June 2024, we had grown enough to become an incorporated association, formalising our commitment to rescuing surplus fruit across Adelaide. This milestone was followed by another significant achievement in October when we received official charity status, strengthening our ability to serve the community.
Fruit Harvested by Month (kg)
A Year of Growth in Numbers
By year's end, our total harvest reached an impressive 11,650kg. This success was made possible by our network of:
291 registered volunteers, with 87 actively participating in harvests
96 registered food relief organisations
189 registered properties, of which we harvested at 111 locations
Map showing volunteers, fruit trees and food relief organisations registered with us
(green icons represents those that have participated so far)
The Rhythm of the Seasons
Our harvesting journey followed nature's calendar throughout 2024:
Summer (January-February)
A modest start with smaller harvests as we established our systems and processes.
Autumn (March-May)
Our harvests grew substantially, with a diverse range of produce including apples, pears, quinces, and early citrus varieties.
Winter (June-August)
Peak harvest season with our largest monthly collections, featuring citrus fruits, late-season apples, and various other produce.
Spring (September-November)
Continued strong harvests of citrus fruits, with increasing variety as the weather warmed.
Summer Return (December)
Finished the year strong with summer fruits and vegetables, particularly tomatoes from commercial glasshouses.
Produce Harvested by Council (kg)
Beyond the Harvest: Community Education and Engagement
Our mission extends beyond just harvesting fruit. Throughout 2024, we've been deeply involved in community education and engagement:
Winter Pruning Workshops
In June and July, we held three sold-out pruning workshops led by experts Steve Hoefner and Amanda Fleming. These workshops weren't just about teaching pruning techniques; they were about empowering people to better care for their fruit trees and understand the importance of sustainable urban agriculture. We kept costs low to ensure accessibility while covering our basic expenses, reflecting our commitment to community education.
Community Events and Media Presence
Our presence at the Meadows Country Fair in October, where over 10,000 people attended, helped spread our message to a wider audience. Our founder, Brett Dunstone, became a regular voice on ABC Radio and Coast FM, appearing at least five times to share our story and mission. Brett's presentation at the Permaculture Convergence in November further helped spread awareness of our work.
Media Recognition
Our story has captured the imagination of local media, featuring in:
SA Life Gardens & Outdoor Living summer edition
Various council newsletters across Onkaparinga, Mitcham, and Marion
Multiple radio segments and local publications
Responsible Food Rescue
Our commitment to responsible food rescue extends beyond just collecting surplus fruit. We've taken a proactive stance on fruit fly management by avoiding harvests within restriction zones in Adelaide's north. Instead of viewing this as a limitation, we've partnered with PIRSA to educate the community about fruit fly management, demonstrating our commitment to long-term agricultural sustainability.
Our Growing Partnership Network
The success of our first year wouldn't have been possible without our supportive partner network:
Core Supporters
Green Adelaide provided crucial insurance coverage and first aid training for our harvest leaders
Bunnings contributed harvest equipment and raffle prizes
Onkaparinga and Mitcham councils offered both financial support through grants and community outreach opportunities
Neutrog provided valuable prizes for our community raffles
Grant Success
Building on our initial grants from Mitcham and Onkaparinga councils in late 2023, we secured additional funding through the Suzanne Elliott Trust in August 2024. These grants have been instrumental in:
Developing our website
Purchasing essential harvest equipment
Printing promotional materials
Conducting educational workshops
Securing event equipment like our marquee
Covering incorporation costs
The Fruits of Our Labour
The diversity of produce we rescued tells a story of Adelaide's rich urban orchards:
Citrus (6,050kg)
Lemons: 2,225kg
Oranges: 1,865kg
Grapefruit: 1,025kg
Mandarins: 495kg
Limes: 355kg
Pome Fruit (4,480kg)
Apples: 2,440kg
Pears: 1,550kg
Quinces: 270kg
Nashis: 170kg
Other Produce
Vegetables (mainly tomatoes): 800kg
Stone fruit: 200kg
Specialty fruits (white sapote, macadamias, loquats): 120kg
Geographic Impact
Our work spread across 17 council areas, with particular success in Adelaide's southern regions:
Onkaparinga Council: 3,915kg
Adelaide Hills Council: 2,595kg
Mitcham Council: 1,260kg
Marion Council: 1,010kg
Adelaide Plains Council: 570kg
Commercial Partnerships
While backyard harvests formed the backbone of our work (99 harvests yielding nearly 7,000kg), our partnerships with commercial farms proved incredibly productive. Twenty commercial farm harvests yielded 4,700kg, averaging over 230kg per harvest. We're particularly grateful to:
Magarey's Orchard in Coromandel Valley
Lennane Orchard in Montacute
Several commercial glasshouses
Celebrating Success
In November, we gathered for our End of Year picnic, where over 30 people came together to celebrate our achievements. This event wasn't just a celebration; it was a testament to the community we've built and the relationships we've fostered throughout the year.
Get Involved
We're always looking for more people to join our mission! We need:
Harvest volunteers
Harvest leaders (training provided)
Behind-the-scenes support with:
Social media management
Blog writing
Marketing
Administration
Event coordination
Whether you have a fruit tree to share, want to volunteer, or can help with administrative tasks, visit our Get Involved page to learn more about how you can contribute to reducing food waste and supporting our community.
Looking Forward to 2025
As we look to the future, we're excited about:
Expanding our partnerships to maximise our impact
Offering more educational workshops while maintaining accessibility
Growing our volunteer and donor networks
Developing new initiatives to reduce food waste
Building stronger connections with food relief organisations
Join Our Journey
Every kilogram of fruit we rescue represents not just reduced waste, but stronger community connections and improved food security across Adelaide. Whether you have fruit trees that need harvesting, want to volunteer, or are a food relief organisation interested in receiving fresh produce, we invite you to be part of our story.
Together, we can ensure that no good fruit goes to waste in our community while supporting those who need it most. The success of our first year has laid a strong foundation, but we know this is just the beginning of what we can achieve together.
If you'd like to get involved or learn more about our work, please visit www.fruitshareadelaide.com.au/get-involved.
Every person, every tree, and every kilogram of fruit makes a difference in our mission to create a more sustainable and food-secure Adelaide.
