Harvest Options:
Backyard harvests done by PFTP volunteers (explained below).
Do-it-Yourself harvesting and drop off at our Fruit Fridge for donation.
Pick your own fruit and share it on Freeya! Portland’s Free Marketplace.
Backyard Harvest Program
Backyard Harvests are a resource for fruit tree stewards who have more fruit than they can eat, want to prevent food waste, and want their fruit to help nourish the community.
During the harvest season (roughly mid-June to early December), Portland Fruit Tree Project engages volunteers to harvest excess fruit from the yards of Portland residents, and donates the best of it to food security organizations or programs.
How it Works
You fill out a form about the tree(s) and commit to the financial contribution that is right for the household.
We review it to see if the harvest is doable and send you a waiver if it looks like we can do it.
You sign the waiver and pay your harvest contribution.
When the fruit is close to ripe, let us know it’s “go time,” so we can schedule. If you can give us up to a week, we appreciate it, but we know how it goes!
We set up and manage the event and get it staffed, assign vehicles, etc.
Following the harvest, you get a thank you, donation receipt, and opportunity to provide feedback. We coordinate the fruit going to partner agencies and it becomes a joyful addition to someone’s food resources!
Sliding Scale Fees:
Each harvest costs the Portland Fruit Tree Project $500 (staff time, insurance, tools, vehicle use, software, and supplies).
To ensure that we can continue to do this vital and fulfilling work on behalf of our community, we have a sliding scale fee for harvests, as outlined below. Donations are always welcome and go directly back into the operations of Portland Fruit Tree’s main directive - sharing fruit and sharing joy!
Sliding Scale Fee Structure:
Everyone in our community is in a different financial situation and there is no obvious standard for a family or individual’s ability to contribute. We are adopting the Embracing Equity Sliding Scale as a starting point in this journey toward a more just and equitable structure. We believe a part of equity is for people experiencing more privilege to voluntarily commit to sharing their abundance with others. In that spirit, the following is our recommendation based on the infographic below. Please plan to contribute the amount that is right for you and your family.
Full Bottle: $350+
Half Full Bottle: $100 - $350
Not Half Full Bottle: $35 - $100
If we are unable to harvest your tree this season, or you just like to be more hands on, please consider harvesting it on your own and bring it to the Fruit Fridge! Here’s how it works!
