Fruits of the City – Fruit Gleaning

Hundreds of fruit trees are already growing in Twin Cities backyards and public spaces.  Many of them produce more fruit than their owners can manage to eat, pick, or preserve.  Waste fruit can be a burden to compost, while attracting pests. 

Fruits of the City Gleaning program matches “donated” trees with groups of trained volunteers, who pick the fruit. Volunteers take home some of the fruit they pick, and deliver the rest to local food shelves. 

In 2009, Fruits of the City successfully picked more than 15,500 pounds of fruit and, between August and October alone, 150 volunteers harvested fruit from over 49 urban locations. In 2010 we hope to pick more than 20,000 lbs. of fruit!

Twelve food banks across the Twin Cities currently received gleanings from Fruits of the City in 2009. These food shelves are typically stocked with canned and packaged goods, and are delighted to be able to offer fresh fruit to their patrons.  Service Director Amy Michael of Summit University Living at Home/Block Nurse Program noted that her clients, many of them isolated seniors, were so grateful to have the fresh fruit donated by this program.  

Homeowners love the program as well:

In October 2008, we started with just one tree.  The owner told us,

“The apples are ripe right now, and …there are tons falling on the ground constantly.  I’ve already made many apple crisps out of it and that can’t even begin to put a dent in it.  I would love to have the tree picked!  I feel like it’s such a waste ’cause I’m just raking it up constantly every week and sending the stuff to compost. I’d be thrilled if people came and picked all the apples off it.”

We went to her house to glean, and, in about 90 minutes, we picked 100 pounds of apples, which we delivered to Sharing Korner food shelf in St. Paul. 

The most recent Edible Twin Cities magazine (Winter 2009/2010) featured an article highlighting the achievements of our Fruits of the City Program. To read the full article, and check out the full publication, pick up a copy of Edible Twin Cities at most co-ops throughout the metro area, or subscribe via their website.

Do you have a tree that needs picking? Click here!

Would you like to volunteer as a gleaner? Volunteer here!

Do you know of a neglected fruit tree around the Twin Cities? Is there an apple, pear or plum tree in an abandoned lot, an old parking lot, at your school or behind your church? Let us know!

Stay tuned for more information about our 2010 gleaning schedule!

If you are interested in supporting Fruits of the City as a corporate or foundation sponsor, please contact Dave Glen at dglenn@mnproject.org.