Starting Aug. 31, Cochrane introduced its inaugural Community Tree Fruit Round-Up, an innovative event designed to help residents clean up their yards while contributing to local food banks and supporting wildlife.
"This initiative not only helps reduce wildlife attractants by encouraging residents to harvest their fruit but also turns potential waste into a resource for those in need," said Trish Kluane, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces for the Town.
The event, which will take place on four dates (Aug. 31, Sept. 14, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5), invites the community to collect surplus fruit from their trees.
Fallen fruit will be donated to the Cochrane Ecological Institute to aid injured or orphaned animals, while fruit picked directly from trees will be redistributed to local food banks, including the Cochrane Food Bank, the Îyâhrhe Nakoda Food Bank, and the Helping Hands food shed.
"Once fruit ripens, it often falls to the ground and becomes a mess on sidewalks, properties, and other urban areas," Kluane said. "Participation in this event empowers residents to proactively manage these issues while supporting community well-being and local wildlife."
The collection events will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Town of Cochrane Lagoon. Residents are encouraged to bring their collected fruit to the designated bins at the site during the event dates. Soft or mushy fruit should be placed in green bins, as it cannot be used for the round-up.
For more information on the event, residents can visit Cochrane.ca/TreeFruitRoundUp or contact [email protected]. Further details about the Cochrane Ecological Institute and its programs are available at ceiwildlife.org.
