Support the Minnesota Project
Local Food: Our Program Initiatives
 

Fruits of the City LogoFruits of the City

Who we are
Fruits of the City aims to capture fresh fruit that would otherwise go to waste and redistribute it to those in need. In 2011, we partnered with Second Harvest Heartland to glean over 31,000 pounds of fruit.

How to get involved
We are excited about the potential for growth, but need your help! Fruits of the City is currently looking for:

  • Volunteers to pick fruit at our gleaning events
  • Homeowners to donate unwanted fruit on their trees
  • Neighborhood coordinators to help organize the volunteers in designated neighborhoods
  • Donors to support our work financially

The gleaning season begins in mid-August and runs through late October. Neighborhood gleanings will be held every Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and every other Saturday from 9:00-12:00 pm, with additional dates and times to be added as the trees ripen.

To register now as a volunteer gleaner or tree owner, click here: VolunteerHub.

Please also consider making a donation by visiting GiveMN: Give MN Logo.

To join our mailing list or apply to become a neighborhood coordinator, email us at fruits@mnproject.org.

Orchard gleanings
In 2011, Fruits of the City teamed up with Second Harvest Heartland and Emergency Food Shelf Network to pick 13,078 pounds of fruit from nearby orchards. For information about additional orchard gleaning opportunities, visit VolunteerHub or contact us by email at fruits@mnproject.org.

This is a great opportunity for business, churches, student groups and others to get involved with our work.

Fruit tree classes
Jeffrey Johnson, a horticulturalist at the University of Minnesota with 30 years of experience, will be teaching fruit tree care, pruning and training classes this spring, summer, and fall. This year we will also have additional guest speakers covering new topics such as soils, bees and pollination, food preservation, and companion planting. Click here to learn more.

Fruits of the City is generously sponsored bySuperValu Logoand General Mills Logo

         
 
Photo of Luke, Jen and Annalisa
“We had a lovely time volunteering and hope to do it again!” 
 
 
back to the top
©The Minnesota Project