Job Posting – Coordinator – Central Okanagan Fruit Tree Project

 

Coordinator – Central Okanagan Fruit Tree Project

Project Description

The Fruit Tree Project is an initiative of the Central Okanagan Food Policy Council (COFPC), a registered non-profit society working towards a food secure Central Okanagan. The purpose of the project is to turn backyard fruit trees into a valuable source of food for the community by harvesting otherwise wasted fruit.The project increases the availability of healthy fruit for those in need, reduces food waste, and promotes local food security and volunteerism.The Fruit Tree Project had it’s first season last year. The COFPC is looking to grow and expand the project this year, in addition to establishing the sustainability of the project.

Position Description

The Fruit Tree Project Coordinator will report to the main leads of the Fruit Tree Project. They will be involved in a number of tasks related to the operations, growth, and sustainability of the Fruit Tree Project including:

  • Ongoing operations
    • Coordinating volunteers and picks
    • Volunteer recruitment
    • Be present at and participate in all gleans
    • Volunteer recognition event
    • Refining operations and procedures
    • Liaising with organizations receiving fruit donations
    • Maintaining databases in excel (contacts, statistics)
    • Social media (facebook, twitter, blogs)
    • Report updates to COFPC Board
    • Season wrap-up report
    • Thank you letters/phone calls to donors, volunteers
    • Additional job duties as assigned
  • Growth and sustainability
    • Public presentations and attend community events to increase awareness of the gleaning project
    • Connecting project with more organizations to receive fruit donations
    • Network with with potential financial and equipment donors
    • Connect with other organizations for partnership opportunities
    • Fundraising
    • Grant writing
    • Exploring sustanability of Fruit Tree Project and coordinator position

Qualification/Desired Traits

  • Motivated, self-starter
  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • Project coordination experience
  • Computer skills: word, excel, email, Facebook, Twitter
  • Excellent communicator both oral and written

Contract will run from June through to the end of October and is for $4000. Please submit your questions and/or resume to cofruittreeproject@gmail.com by 4pm, May 24th, 2013.

 

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COFPC is Growing!

The Central Okanagan Food Policy Council (COFPC) keeps on ‘growing’ it’s ability to help out the local community. Last year we started the Fruit Tree Project, which, with the help of 80 volunteers over the summer and fall, saved over 5,000 lbs of fruit from backyard trees. This produce was shared between the home-owners, volunteers and 12 local agencies who in turn helped their clients access healthy, fresh food. This year, there twice as many trees already registered on their site!

On top of that, a very generous local family has offered some of their farmland for the COFPC to grow fresh vegetables, so we can help with even more healthy food. We are happy to have the local Food not Bombs group joining us on the land, as they learn to garden, and of course, share food as well. Our goal is to have other interested local community groups join us over the next few years!

If anyone is interested in either learning, helping out, donating gardening or picking tools or joining our group, please contact us.

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Vancouver Food Strategy Passed Unanimously by City Council

On Wednesday, January 30 Vancouver City Council unanimously passed the Vancouver Food Strategy, a comprehensive municipal food policy created through collaboration between city staff and the Vancouver Food Policy Council, with substantial input from members of the public. More information on the Food Strategy can be found at http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/vancouvers-food-strategy.aspx or the document can be downloaded directly at http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/vancouver-food-strategy-draft.pdf.

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How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank

Here is an innovative way that a small town in Colorado is trying to encourage seed saving. Read and listen here.

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Okanagan documentary about the production of food waste

This is a documentary about the production of food waste. This film is global, but we focus on the Okanagan and Kelowna British Columbia, Canada specifically because this is where we attend college and live. We contrast “developed” countries’ levels of food waste with the reality of worldwide hunger. And we also touch on the negative impacts unethical agriculture has on the environment. We meet with local organizations in the Okanagan, like the North Okanagan Valley Gleaner’s Society and the Central Okanagan Food Policy Council who are both combatting the issues explored in this documentary. At the end, professionals give wise and helpful advice on how to change our wasteful society. Enjoy!

Watch video at Fare Activism

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Apple Juice Fundraiser

Summerhill Winery,  The Mobile Juice Factory and our Fruit Tree Project team have partnered to bring you Wild MacIntosh fruit juice!

This fresh juice was pressed and pasteurized on 09/24/2012 at Summerhill Winery, from healthy, pest-free, delicious MacIntosh apples that were rescued from a naturally abundant wild orchard. Unsprayed, unwatered, unpruned.

A 5 Litre box (will store for at least a year unrefridgerated) is only $16.00. Great time to stock up for the year!

Partial proceeds from this tasty apple juice will support our Fruit Tree Project – a Central Okanagan Food Policy Council initiative.

To order yours, please e-mail cofruittreeproject@gmail.com

Thank for your support!

 

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