Interested in harvesting and donating fruit from your tree?
Harvesting and donating fruit from your tree is one of the simplest ways to prevent food waste and increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in your community.
Step 1: Connect with us If you haven’t already, register your fruit tree with Food Forward. It only takes a couple of minutes, and you will be connected with one of our harvest coordinators who can support you along the way. If you’ve donated fruit to us before, please reach out five to seven days before you plan to harvest so we have time to find a home for your fruit and ensure it arrives at one of our partner hunger relief organizations as fresh as possible. Email [email protected] or visit our contact page for regional contact information.
Step 2: Gather equipment Any small to medium-sized clean bags or boxes work to transport fruit to our partner hunger relief organization, and often your hands are the only tools you need. If you’d like to borrow additional equipment or boxes, we have equipment hub locations throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Contact Backyard Harvest staff for access information.
Step 3: Determine where the fruit will go Food Forward staff will schedule your fruit drop-off at a partner hunger relief organization in your neighborhood based on how much fruit you will have and when you plan to harvest. It is important that we make these arrangements before you harvest.
Step 4: Harvest the fruit Review the tips below and harvest away! When finished, send Food Forward staff a photo of the fruit you collected so we can update our records and send a donation receipt.
Harvesting Tips
When to harvest: Fruit is ripe when it feels heavy for its size and has a pleasant aroma. Do not harvest fruit that is hard and unripe. A taste test is the best way to tell. If the fruit is not sweet and juicy, leave it on the tree for a few more weeks and try again.
How to harvest: Use your hands and harvest what you can reach. If you have a picker pole or hand pruner, feel free to use them. Place harvested fruit in any boxes or bags you have at home. For more information on harvesting specific types of fruit, check out our fruit harvesting profiles resource.
Prevent the spread of Citrus Greening Disease: Remove any leaves or stems before sharing. Leaves and stems may carry the Asian Citrus Psyllid, a vector responsible for the spread of Huanglongbing (Citrus Greening Disease).
What to share: Only share fruit you would want to eat. Ripe, undamaged fruit is key. Do not share unripe or green fruit (citrus does not ripen off the tree), fruit with broken skin or rot, or fruit that has been on the ground.