City-grown fruit is a resource for the entire community. Because most residential tree owners can’t—or don’t—use all the fruit produced on their properties, much of it falls to the ground and rots. In addition, much of the fruit grown in urban landscapes is infested with preventable pests.
City Fruit works neighborhood by neighborhood to help residential tree owners grow healthy fruit, to harvest and use what they can, and to share what they don’t need. City Fruit collaborates with others involved in local food production, climate protection, horticulture, food security and community-building to protect and optimize urban fruit trees.
City Fruit is in the process of becoming a non-profit corporation with a 501(c)(3) tax exemption. It is supported by donations, memberships, sales and grants.
Mission
City Fruit promotes the cultivation of urban fruit in order to nourish people, build community and protect the climate. We help tree owners grow healthy fruit, provide assistance in harvesting and preserving fruit, promote the sharing of extra fruit, and work to protect urban fruit trees.
Goals
Conservation: Preserve fruit trees on public/private properties; document historical orchards.
Preservation of the urban tree canopy: Increase fruit trees planted on public/private properties; map fruit trees.
Stewardship: Improve the care of fruit trees and reduce the impact of fruit pests and diseases using non toxic methods.
Harvest: Increase the amount of fruit harvested by supporting harvesting groups, developing the capacity of neighborhoods to harvest, and promoting harvesting by tree owners.
Using and sharing fruit: Develop the capacity of people and groups to preserve fruit; explore the income-generating potential of urban fruit; effectively link those who have fruit with those who need it.
Community building: Build and strengthen connections within community groups through the planting, stewardship, harvest and/or preservation of fruit.
