It’s almost harvest season, Calgary! If all those falling apples, summer berries and ripe cherries need somewhere to land, we’ve found just the place.
SunnyCider is a Calgary company who are on a mission to turn the city’s leftover fruit into tasty small-batch cider.
The community-driven initiative is designed to fight food waste and transform Calgary’s backyard abundance into locally crafted cider.
“Our community has the power to turn waste into something beautiful and sustainable,” says Dennis Scanland, founder of SunnyCider. “Every donation not only prevents fruit from ending up in landfills, but also helps us make truly local cider that tells Calgary’s story.”
The first edition of this sustainable food donor program will kick off this weekend, from Aug. 23-24. SunnyCider will be accepting fruit on Saturdays and Sundays until Sept. 28.
What to expect
SunnyCider is on a mission to combat food waste at its source. Their upcoming food donation event will take clean, ripe fruit off your hands at the SunnyCider House on 14th Ave. NE.
They will inspect and process your fruit, creating seasonal ciders that reflect the backyard bounty found around Calgary.
This is a truly local initiative, driven by the unwanted or uneaten treats that most gardeners have leftover at the end of the season.
You know Calgary is a city that loves to garden, and with a climate well-suited to apple, pear and cherry trees, there’s bound to be a pound or two of fruit at this community event.
The best part is that your donation will give you 20% off a cider purchase as appreciation for your contribution to a greener city.
SunnyCider will accept apples, crab apples, pears, berries, choke cherries, cherries and currants. Fruit must be relatively clean, with few leaves and debris on them.
Any fruit deemed unsustainable for cider will be responsibly composted, continuing the renewal life cycle.
“Programs like this show how a local business and a community can work together to reduce waste,” says Scanland. “We’re not just making cider—we’re creating a more sustainable Calgary.”
So this weekend, you can pick your fruit and feel good about it, too. See you there!
When: Aug. 23 to Sept. 28
Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 1-3300 14th Ave. NE
Cost: Free
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