Smaller apples than usual but plenty of surplus produce on its way to foodbanks as volunteers tackle fruit-laden trees

A bumper crop of apples and plums is being collected for foodbanks across the London Borough of Barnet by volunteer fruit pickers from Barnet Community Harvesters who save and redistribute surplus produce.

Despite record summer temperatures and a prolonged drought, many trees have been fruiting far better than expected.

On their fifth visit of the season, volunteers picked 100 kilogrammes of cooking and eating apples from three adjoining gardens in Sebright Road, High Barnet.

Organiser Daniella Levene (above, centre) who established the group five years ago – seen with volunteers Chris Schwarz (left) and Sue Godwin – said the exceptionally hot and dry weather had advanced the fruit harvest by at least two weeks.

“Usually, we do our fruit pick at Sebright Road in early September, so to be here in the last week of August just shows the impact of climate change.

“We have noticed how fruit is ready for picking earlier and earlier each autumn but there has been a real change this year.

“When there is a drought, the trees do get stressed and can produce more fruit.”

Daniella said apples they were picking tended to be smaller but often sweeter than usual.

There was plenty of fruit on the trees and especially good crops of plums and damsons

Community Harvesters have already donated over 200 kilogrammes to foodbanks at Colindale and Finchley and more will be distributed to others across the borough as the picking season progressed.

The visit to Sebright Road was hosted by Helen Harte (left, above) who was delighted that surplus apples from trees in three adjoining gardens would be going to foodbanks.

“There are far too many apples for us and otherwise they would have to go into our green bins which is such a waste.

“Unfortunately, there is a limit on the amount of fruit we can leave out on our doorsteps, so we are delighted the fruit is being picked in top condition and then going straight to foodbanks.”

Daniella said the fruit collected by Community Harvesters’ volunteers was always gratefully received at the foodbanks.

“Colindale is one of the busiest in London and fresh produce is so expensive in the shops, so our initiative is really appreciated.”

Although delighted by this autumn’s crop of fruit, Daniella doubted the group would match their record year of 2022 when the harvesters donated 1,800 kilogrammes of fruit to local foodbanks.