Winery’s apple harvest wins Conservation Award

The partnership began roughly 13 years ago when the winery put out a simple call to residents: bring us your apples.

The response exceeded expectations.

“I remember the crew was picking apples throughout town, and then we would receive maybe 5,000 pounds, 7,000 pounds,” recalled Noemi Touchette, Director of Operations for Northern Lights Estate Winery. “Then from word of mouth and marketing, and with the help of the bear society passing the word that we’re collecting apples, last year we got 50,000 pounds.”

The program’s growth has been remarkable. Touchette said the winery processed more than three-quarters of the apples collected last year, while the remainder was fed to pigs.

The collected fruit is used to create Ursa, a product whose name references the bear species the project aims to protect.

For conservation officers, the initiative addresses one of the primary drivers of bear encounters in Prince George.

“I’ve been a Conservation Officer for just under 12 years now, and I’ve always been local here, but I’ve also been a local resident, so I believe in giving credit where credit is due,” said Conservation Officer Eamon McArthur. “There’s nothing better than giving a bit of credit to some of the local businesses to keep our Prince George strong.”

According to McArthur, two major attractants consistently contribute to conflicts between people and bears in the city: garbage and fruit from residential trees.

While garbage management receives considerable attention, apples can be just as problematic when they are left to accumulate on the ground.

“It’s a difficult concept. There’s a lot of apple trees, and it’s not against the law to have apple trees,” McArthur explained. “It’s just a matter of maintaining them.”

He noted that many residents enjoy harvesting and using their fruit, but not everyone has the time or ability to process a full crop.

“For a lot of people, they want to use their apples, which is totally fine,” he said. “It’s just a matter of if you’re not planning on using the apples. At least there are programs such as this to help you out if you’re not interested in getting rid of the tree.”

The winery’s collection program offers homeowners an alternative to letting fruit fall and become a potential attractant for wildlife.

Over the years, the initiative has become a familiar seasonal event for many Prince George residents, who donate apples knowing the fruit will be put to good use.

Touchette said the program also acknowledges the work and pride local gardeners invest in their trees.

“When you’re a gardener, your harvest is special,” she said. “You’ve cherished that tree for many, many years. When it produces fruit, it’s such a reward. But sometimes you can’t process everything.”

Rather than allowing excess fruit to go to waste, growers can contribute it to a project that benefits both the community and local wildlife.

The initiative illustrates how small actions by residents can collectively produce a significant impact.

While receiving an award from the Conservation Officer Service is appreciated, Touchette said the real measure of success lies elsewhere.

“If we know that, let’s say, I don’t know the numbers, but if even 10 per cent, 15 per cent or 20 per cent fewer bears were harvested year after year because of this project, then we would be more than happy,” she said.

That goal underscores the larger purpose behind the annual apple drive. By removing a major wildlife attractant from residential neighbourhoods, organizers hope to reduce the number of bears that become food-conditioned and ultimately come into conflict with people.

Once bears repeatedly access easy food sources in urban areas, they can become habituated to humans, often leading to dangerous encounters and, in some cases, the destruction of the animal.

Programs that eliminate attractants before bears find them are considered one of the most effective tools for preventing those outcomes.

For Prince George residents, donating apples has become a simple way to support both local agriculture and conservation efforts.

The winery’s next collection season begins this weekend, with residents able to drop off apples at the Northern Lights Estate Winery location on Pulp Mill Road.

As thousands of pounds of fruit make their way from backyard trees to wine barrels, organizers hope the program will continue to grow while helping keep bears in the wild and out of neighbourhoods.

by Cheryl Jahn

Winery’s apple harvest wins Conservation Award

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