A Community Fruit Press Reduces Waste and Bear Encounters in Libby

Libby’s abundance of fruit trees creates a seasonal bounty for residents, but many people lack the equipment to process their harvest in a cost-effective way. Staff with the Yaak Valley Forest Council saw an opportunity to help residents use their fruit while addressing bear safety concerns, so they reached out to LOR with an idea. LOR’s funding will help Yaak Valley Forest Council purchase a mobile fruit press that can be transported to farmers markets and community events, allowing residents to process their homegrown fruit at no cost. In addition to reducing food waste, the press will remove fruit that attracts bears to residential areas, creating safer coexistence between wildlife and Libby’s growing population.