Ep 10. Urban Fruit Gleaning

Cooking Up A Story is a web series dedicated to showcasing unique and sustainable approaches to food and agriculture. In season 1 episode 10, titled "Urban Fruit Gleaning," host Rebecca Gerendasy visits Portland, Oregon to explore the practice of urban fruit gleaning.

Gerendasy starts by visiting the Oregon Food Bank's Fruit Tree Project, which coordinates volunteer groups to harvest fruit that would otherwise go to waste in residential areas throughout the city. The volunteers are able to keep a portion of the fruit they collect, while the rest goes to the food bank to distribute to local families in need.

Next, Gerendasy speaks with the founder of the Portland Fruit Tree Project, a non-profit organization that organizes teams of volunteers to harvest fruit from trees in public spaces and backyards throughout the city. The project started as a way to address the issue of wasted fruit in urban areas, but it has since grown to include educational programming and community outreach.

Gerendasy also visits a couple who have transformed their backyard into a veritable fruit orchard, with dozens of trees bearing everything from apples and plums to persimmons and pawpaws. The couple participates in the Portland Fruit Tree Project, and they frequently host fruit-gleaning parties in their backyard for volunteers.

In addition to highlighting the environmental and social benefits of urban fruit gleaning, the episode also touches on the issue of food waste more broadly. According to the USDA, up to 40% of the food produced in the United States goes to waste each year. By gleaning fruit from urban trees, organizations like the Fruit Tree Project and the Portland Fruit Tree Project are helping to reduce that waste while also providing fresh, healthy food to community members in need.

Throughout the episode, Gerendasy meets with a variety of individuals who are passionate about urban fruit gleaning and its potential to create more sustainable and equitable food systems. She also provides tips for viewers who may want to get involved in fruit gleaning themselves, whether by volunteering with a local organization or planting their own fruit trees.

Overall, "Urban Fruit Gleaning" is an inspiring look at the ways in which individuals and organizations are working to address food waste and increase access to fresh, healthy food in urban areas. With its focus on practical solutions and community engagement, the episode offers a hopeful vision for the future of food and agriculture.