Driving around much of Southern California, there is one constant: Backyard fruit trees DRIPPING with unpicked fruit, and even more trees with piles of dropped and rotting fruit under the trees. That really makes me upset. WHY?
There are 16 million hungry kids in the US. I heard a statistic on the radio the other day that 1 in 4 kids in the US don’t have access to fresh fruits and veggies! If you have backyard fruit trees or gardens that are out of control with more produce that you and your family can eat, here are a few ways you can help others in need:
- Contact your local church and see if they offer a food pantry. If so, take a box of produce from your trees/garden over to share with those in need.
- Contact your local food bank and see if they accept home grown fruit. Some do, some do not.
- There are several organizations across the US that will come to you, pick your fruit and donate it. Food Forward, Village Harvest are just two.
- There are websites where you can register your trees and share your produce with others. Falling Fruit is just one.
- Post on your local freecycle or buy nothing project group. I know around here there are many neighbors who would love to help you pick and eat your fruit. Recently there was an older lady who had fruit trees and she couldn’t keep up with the harvesting, so she was looking for someone who could help her pick fruit. They were welcome to take as much as they could eat, as long as they picked 2 lbs of fruit for her. That sounds like a great deal to me!
- Here is a crazy idea- Offer some to your friends and neighbors!
Hewes Family Fun 