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Florida Gardening

Got Fruit?

16 years ago

This weekend I happened to read in the Orlando newspaper about some family who was picking their fruit-grapefruit, oranges or whatever and donating it to the local soup kitchen. It never occurred to me in this state where so much fruit is grown that there would be people who would want my grapefruit. I called the local food bank and they are VERY glad to have it. So I'll be picking it and bringing a bunch there. I wonder if there are other food banks who would benefit from our gardening expertise which results in too much fruit and vegetables.

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Comments (9)

trini1trini
16 years ago
barbcoleus, that is so nice of you and a great idea. I figure with the very many fruit trees that I have in the yard, in a few years when they all start producing, I certainly will do the same thing. Although it will be hard to part with my lychees because they are soooo good. :0) But considering I planted four trees, I think I will have enough to donate.
barbcoleus
Original Author
16 years ago
All these years I've had to chase people down the street and beg them to take my grapefruit and they are really really good. Even my 5year old grandson eats them and he doesn't eat anything. I was hoping other people on this forum would think it was a good idea too and donate whatever they weren't going to use to their local soup kitchen. There are a lot of hungry people out there in these bad econonmic times.
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gcmastiffs
16 years ago
Donating fruit is a great idea! I'll call to give away my tangerines. We cannot possibly eat them all.

Did you just look up Food Banks in the yellow pages?

Lisa
katkin_gw
16 years ago
Barb, I think you are wonderful to come up with this idea. While I don't have any extra fruit yet, there are people I know with more then they can use and I'll suggest this to them. In my immediate area the state took all our fruit trees.
barbcoleus
Original Author
16 years ago
We were very lucky during the citrus canker scare. They inspected our tree whenever it was necessary but it was OK.
I'd like to take credit for this idea but I actually read about it in the Orlando paper this past weekend.
You could call a local church, they have names of food banks or they should. Salvation Army if it's local might have a lead for you.
Barb
Lady
16 years ago
I planned on doing that with my mangos last summer but my crop was extended over a longer time due to 2 bloom times and we ate them all.
katkin_gw
16 years ago
Lol, I am still complaining about it! The state took my HEALTHY trees because there was canker within so many mile radious.
garyfla_gw
16 years ago
Hi
I tried that for several years but got rather put off
as they not only wanted me to pick the fruit but deliver ir also.lol
katkin That happened to me also. I'm tempted to replant with everbearing types but don't want them removed again. There is also another disease called "greening" that is going around. Citrus is such a pretty tree not to mention so useful .I'm reluctant to invest the money though I did get paid for those they removed.
gary
barbcoleus
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm pretty sure that most of the people who work in the food banks are volunteers so they probably don't have anyone to spare to come and pick your fruit. I just have so many grapefruit which I'm going to have to get rid of somehow before next year. I hate to see perfectly good fruit go to waste.
I hope the greening disease doesn't start another rash of tree removal.

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