City Fruit

Mission

City Fruit stewards and harvests from urban fruit trees to support sustainable and equitable access to fruit within the Seattle community.

Description

City Fruit stewards and harvests from urban fruit trees, prioritizing quality fruit to share equitably among neighbors, supporting the growth of a sustainable and accessible food system for all Seattle residents. Our three main programs include our Harvest Program, Community Outreach & Education Program, and Tree Care Services.

Our Harvest Program serves roughly 25,000 Seattle residents experiencing food insecurity by providing organic, local fruit that is often unavailable at food banks and meal programs. Each year, we harvest 30,000-40,000 pounds of quality fruit from residential fruit trees and public orchards and distribute this fruit to 30 food banks, meal programs, schools, and community organizations. We also host “Fruit-For-All” farm stands at community centers across Seattle to provide free fruit directly to the public, and reach communities that may not access food banks. In 2022, we hosted 20 Fruit-for-Alls that served 1,414 individuals and families.

Our Community Outreach and Education Program cultivates youth stewards, future orchardists, and environmental champions. We offer youth and adult environmental education centered on fruit trees stewardship and the role of fruit trees in our local food system. Additionally, through volunteer events centered on harvesting, pruning, jam making, and more, we promote the use and stewardship of public orchards. 

Through our Tree Care Services Program and public orchard plantings, we protect the health of existing fruit trees and add more fruit trees to our local food system. Our Fruit Tree Specialist provides services such as mulching, pruning, and integrated pest management for residential  fruit tree owners and in public orchards alongside community orchardists. Each year, we provide year-round care for roughly 600 fruit trees. We also plant orchards in public parks throughout the Greater Seattle Area to increase the accessibility of fresh, organic fruit for local communities for years to come. This year we've already planted 50 fruit trees and berry bushes at Troll's Knoll Park in Fremont, McAuliffe Park in Kirkland, and Pond Park in the High Point neighborhood in West Seattle.

Collectively, our programs unite our community in a shared effort to reduce food insecurity by protecting the health of local fruit trees, increasing accessibility of locally harvested fruit, and cultivating knowledge and connection to public orchards.