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Date: 11/3/2021
LONGMEADOW – The Longmeadow Fruit Sale has been a community tradition for over 50 years. Hosted by the Longmeadow High School Music Department, orders are now being accepted until Nov. 14.
In 2020, the fruit sale could only accept online orders due to COVID-19. This year they are offering both in-person and online sales with pick-up taking place at Longmeadow High School on Dec. 4.
The sale includes a 40 pound box of navel oranges or pink grapefruit for $48, a 20 pound box of navel oranges or pink grapefruit for $31 or a 10 pound box of clementines for $35.
According to Music Department Chair Kayla Werlin, the funds from the sale support costs beyond the budget of the music program. This includes any necessary equipment, outfits, musical guests and teachers, scholarships for travel and more.
Werlin said that after a hard year the students are extremely excited to be able to host the fruit sale normally.
“The kids are so excited about it. I got questions starting almost the first day of school about if we were going to be able to do the fruit sale. They love it,” she said. “They have made it a really fun tradition. It’s exciting as a teacher to see the students take ownership of this and bring joy to it and bring excitement and enthusiasm.”
The music program at Longmeadow High School has over 150 students. Werlin said that the fruit sale is their biggest fundraising effort along with donations they collect at the door of their concerts.
The music program was able to host their first in-person concert since February 2020 on Oct. 27. She said that they have mapped out COVID-19 safe seating in the auditorium and are looking forward to their upcoming fall and winter shows.
“It’s very, very exciting to have our students performing again in our auditorium,” she said.
For now, the shows are only open to families due to safety precautions.
“For now, it’s families only. But Longmeadow Community Television partners with us and they often will stream our concerts and the ones that they don’t stream they will put up on their YouTube channel,” said Werlin.
Fruit sale orders can be picked up at the high school between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 4. Residents are also able to have their orders shipped out to them or others as a gift by ordering online.
Werlin said that it feels great to have the music back and to be able to continue their annual tradition.
“It’s so exciting to have the music back. It means a lot to the students to have the music back. I will say that the pandemic was hard on so many people for so many reasons and, as people can imagine, it really impacted music severely. It means a lot to all of us to be bringing it back … All of the activities that we love, especially our musical performances, but definitely including our traditional fruit sale,” she said.
Those interested in purchasing from the Longmeadow Fruit Sale are able to order directly from any student in the music program, from Werlin at 565-4220, ext, 2353, or through her email at kwerlin@longmeadow.k12.ma.us or online at https://freshfruitorder.org/LongmeadowMusic/Organizations/LandingPage.aspx. Limited orders can also be placed in-person at Longmeadow High School on Dec. 4.