Not Far From the Tree’s 400+ volunteers collect fruit growing in neighbourhoods across Toronto.
Not Far from the Tree (NFFTT) is a unique not-for-profit organization ensuring the fruit growing in local neighbourhoods across the city of Toronto is picked, eaten, shared and enjoyed. NFFTT residential fruit-picking programs utilize over 400 volunteers to work with willing home-owners to harvest and share the fruit growing on their property.
Fruit is split evenly amongst the homeowner, volunteers, local social service agencies and food banks. Keeping it eco-friendly, the fruit is transported to its respective destination by bicycle and trailer. In 2009, their catchment area was tripled, with volunteers collecting 8 135 lbs of fruit. Recognizing that over 1.5 million lbs of fruit grows in the city every year, NFFTT has made it their goal to divert this fruit from the wastestream.
Other initiatives spearheaded by NFFTT include
- ‘I’d Tap That’, Syrup in the City program to tap sugar maple trees throughout the city to produce local maple syrup
- Involvement with over 40 community and city-wide events engaging Torontonians in issues of local food production and environmental stewardship
- Assistance with Toronto’s first community orchard
- Promoting their fruit to local and celebrity chefs to create palatable desserts as a featured local menu item – including chef Jamie Kennedy.
