Northern Lights’ Noemi Tourchette receives a box of apples from Dave Bakker. -photo 250News

Prince George BC  – The Northern Lights Estate Winery has launched its third annual campaign to accept unwanted  apples from local residents.

As has been the case in the past the Winery will make a cash donation for every pound of apples it receives from the community to Northern Bear Awareness to reduce bear-human conflict.

Northern Bear Awareness’s Dave Bakker says the society will, in turn, give half of all the proceeds it receives to the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter in Smithers. “Our operating costs are pretty low” says Bakker ” and the wildlife shelter really needs the money  as they deal with the end result of human-bear conflict”.

The winery will use the apples to make wine, and has already received about 4 thousand pounds of unwanted apples.  The goal this year is to collect 20 thousand pounds.”Based on the number of apple trees we see on the city that goal is very realistic” says Bakker.

Apples can be dropped off at the winery during its regular operating hours.