79 Pear Trees Orchard, Rangiora: Sharing the harvest to support the community

In Rangiora, North Canterbury, Chris and her husband retired to a peaceful lifestyle block with an abundance of 79 heritage pear trees, producing up to five tonnes of fruit each year. As retirees, they found it increasingly challenging to manage the harvest themselves. While they shared generously with neighbours and friends, much of the fruit went unpicked. That changed when Chris spotted a newspaper story about Satisfy Food Rescue and their Second Harvest work. Curious, she reached out to see if they might be interested in her pears. 

A Growing Partnership

That simple inquiry sparked a partnership that’s now in its third year. Each harvest season, Satisfy arrives with everything needed: ladders, boxes, a van, cool storage and a team of 10 to 15 well-prepared volunteers. A neighbour, who is also part of the volunteer crew, helps guide others on proper picking techniques at the start of each session.

Chris deeply appreciates Satisfy’s efficient operation and the care and respect the team has for her property. “The team is so respectful. They close the gate behind them, thank us before they leave, and take real care when picking and packing the pears. It means a lot to see that kind of care for both the fruit and our property,” she says.

Making a Difference in the Community

Satisfy’s respectful approach and quality checks ensure only the best produce reaches the community. For Chris, that makes the outcome even more meaningful. The pears now find their way into school lunch programmes and community food distributions across the region, a result she finds deeply rewarding. “The best part for me is knowing the pears are making a difference – going into school lunches or community food parcels instead of rotting on the ground. Getting photos and updates afterwards makes it feel really rewarding.”

Encouraging More Growers to Get Involved

Chris believes many other growers would welcome the opportunity to share surplus produce if they knew how straightforward and rewarding it can be. Often, all it takes is a conversation with a local food rescue group, a quick site visit to confirm safety and logistics, and the simple act of giving the green light for volunteers to harvest. For growers, there is no heavy lifting required, just the satisfaction of seeing good food put to good use.

Her orchard is a reminder that even small-scale growers can play a meaningful role in reducing food waste and feeding communities, one tree, one bin or one season at a time.