Local non-profit City Fruit has harvested viable fruit from local trees, and they’ve so far collected 15,000 pounds – and are on track to reach their goal of 40,000 pounds this year.
With help from Americorps, Seattle Youth Employment and UW Interns through July and August, City Fruit have collected good fruit from trees at area homes, farms and public areas. City Fruit prioritizes fruit our community enjoys and can eat without processing. They’ve collected figs, cherries, apples, plums, and pears – and 150 pounds of blueberries from Canter-berry Farms. They collect fruit that would otherwise go to waste, sending the best fruit to food banks and at one of their pop-up Fruit-For-All Farmstands.
Other fruit not eligible for direct eating, goes to partner organizations such as FareStart, which makes applesauce. Apples also go to local cideries, plums to area bakeries, and crabapples to make crabapple jelly. They continue to find sustainable ways to make the fullest use of these resources, to feed people rather than filling waste bins.
Anyone interested in learning more can visit the City Fruit office at 4000 Aurora Ave N, Suite 123. They can distribute some fruit there, to community members, and give advice on tree care services. The offices are staffed from 9a – 3p, Monday to Friday, although to avoid COVID contamination, visitors are requested to call ahead to 206/922-3967.
During a visit, or right now, learn about a City Fruit membership. Members contribute what they can on a monthly basis, and support the funding of this non-profit. In exchange, members get discounts to area cideries and nurseries, reduced costs on tree care services, and enrollment in the City Fruit Master Tree Stewards program. For a limited time, new members can also get a home-made plum torte – made from fruit harvested from area trees.
Learn all about City Fruit, and membership, on the website (click here.)