Source for free fruit?

[dpsimswm]

I'd like to make my wine is cheap as possible. Does anyone know a good source for free fruit? I looked at pick your own places. They are just as expensive as the store.

 

[Inner10]

I'd like to make my wine is cheap as possible. Does anyone know a good source for free fruit? I looked at pick your own places. They are just as expensive as the store.

Only when fruit is in season and you can buy over ripe ones that no body wants to eat.

 

[saramc]

Talk with grocery store produce managers and perhaps you can work on a discount, though I doubt they will just give it away. You can try placing an ad on Craigslist for any 'unused seasonal fruits', mention you are willing to pick it, give examples of what you are looking for. I found pears, peaches, apples, persimmons and mulberries this way. Hoping to find black/raspberries, elderberries and rhubarb this season. Just do not mention bartering for wine since that is illegal in US. And of course, you can always plant your own.

 

[Yooper]

I pick wild fruits all fall- chokecherries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, crabapples, wild grapes, etc. And in the spring, I use dandelions and rhubarb for wine. There are other wild fruits and flowers that can easily be used for wine as well- serviceberries, gooseberries, elderberries, etc. And if a neighbor has an apple tree, you can ask for the ones that fall on the ground.

It really depends on where you live, and how hard you're willing to work for it.

 

[NivekD]

Come harvest time around here, there are several people that post ads on our online want ads giving away their fruit. Apples, apricots, peaches, grapes...they just can't use it all and don't want it on the ground.

 

[cwebb]

I live in Missouri.
I pick my own Cherries, Blackberries, Elderberries and buy my grapes from a vineyard locally.
As far as the picking goes it is a lot of work but worth it for the free fruit.