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News Release

Portland Fruit Tree Project Expands Fresh Food Distribution With New West Side Harvest Hub - 07/22/26

Grand Opening Celebration

Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Bethlehem House of Bread
9055 SW Locust Street, Tigard, OR 97223

 

UPDATE: Rep Sue Rieke Smith, Mayor Hu, and Amanda Orozco of Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon to Attend and Speak at the event.

 

This summer, Portland Fruit Tree Project is expanding with a second refrigerated distribution hub on the west side of the metro area in partnership with Bethlehem House of Bread, a long-standing Tigard nonprofit that provides groceries, prepared meals, clothing, household essentials, and compassionate support to neighbors facing food insecurity and financial hardship. 

 

For the past 20 years, Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) has mobilized thousands of volunteers to rescue fruit from backyard trees, community orchards, and Portland Parks, ensuring fresh, local produce doesn't go to waste but instead reaches families experiencing food insecurity through a network of community food pantries. 

 

A cornerstone of that work is PFTP's refrigerated fruit hub, where volunteers and staff bring in tens of thousands of pounds of freshly harvested fruit each year for distribution to partner food pantries. Until now, that operation has been centered at Leaven Community Center in Northeast Portland.

 

The expansion comes as Oregon communities are experiencing increased demand for emergency food. Recent federal changes to SNAP have reduced or eliminated food assistance for thousands of Oregonians through expanded work requirements and other eligibility changes. The Oregon Department of Human Services estimates that nearly 7,000 Oregonians have already experienced reductions in or loss of SNAP benefits this year, with thousands more expected to be affected as the changes continue to roll out. Additional federal changes are also reducing benefits for many households and phasing out SNAP nutrition education programs across the state.

 

“Fresh produce is one of the most requested items at our pantry, yet it's often unavailable because of cost and limited supply,” said Bethlehem House of Bread Pastoral Director Jeff Lowery. “Recent reductions in USDA funding have made access even more challenging. Our partnership with Portland Fruit Tree Project will help ensure more fresh, healthy food reaches the people who need it most”. 

 

Originally envisioned as a gradual expansion, the west side hub became an immediate priority this year as community partners anticipated growing demand. To help make the project possible, Portland Fruit Tree Project launched a fundraising campaign—and was met with extraordinary generosity.

 

The Starseed Foundation, moved by the growing need for fresh food access in Oregon, stepped forward with a transformational gift that fully funded the new refrigeration hub.

 

"This gift allows us to respond immediately rather than years from now," said Executive Director of Portland Fruit Tree Project Heather Kessler Fornes. "It means more fruit rescued, more volunteers engaged, and more healthy food delivered to local families."

 

Members of the media, community partners, local politicians, and the public are invited to celebrate the opening of the new harvest hub on Thursday, July 23, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Bethlehem House of Bread, 9055 SW Locust Street in Tigard. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the new facility, meet staff and volunteers from both organizations, and learn how this partnership will increase access to fresh, locally harvested produce throughout Washington County and the greater Portland region.

 

Please RSVP for press by emailing Kathrynh@portlandfruit.org

RSVP for guests at https://bethlehemhouseofbread.org/fruit-fridge-celebration

 

Portland Fruit Tree Project Expands Fresh Food Distribution With New West Side Harvest Hub - 07/22/26

Grand Opening Celebration

Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Bethlehem House of Bread
9055 SW Locust Street, Tigard, OR 97223

 

UPDATE: Rep Sue Rieke Smith, Mayor Hu, and Amanda Orozco of Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon to Attend and Speak at the event.

 

This summer, Portland Fruit Tree Project is expanding with a second refrigerated distribution hub on the west side of the metro area in partnership with Bethlehem House of Bread, a long-standing Tigard nonprofit that provides groceries, prepared meals, clothing, household essentials, and compassionate support to neighbors facing food insecurity and financial hardship. 

 

For the past 20 years, Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) has mobilized thousands of volunteers to rescue fruit from backyard trees, community orchards, and Portland Parks, ensuring fresh, local produce doesn't go to waste but instead reaches families experiencing food insecurity through a network of community food pantries. 

 

A cornerstone of that work is PFTP's refrigerated fruit hub, where volunteers and staff bring in tens of thousands of pounds of freshly harvested fruit each year for distribution to partner food pantries. Until now, that operation has been centered at Leaven Community Center in Northeast Portland.

 

The expansion comes as Oregon communities are experiencing increased demand for emergency food. Recent federal changes to SNAP have reduced or eliminated food assistance for thousands of Oregonians through expanded work requirements and other eligibility changes. The Oregon Department of Human Services estimates that nearly 7,000 Oregonians have already experienced reductions in or loss of SNAP benefits this year, with thousands more expected to be affected as the changes continue to roll out. Additional federal changes are also reducing benefits for many households and phasing out SNAP nutrition education programs across the state.

 

“Fresh produce is one of the most requested items at our pantry, yet it's often unavailable because of cost and limited supply,” said Bethlehem House of Bread Pastoral Director Jeff Lowery. “Recent reductions in USDA funding have made access even more challenging. Our partnership with Portland Fruit Tree Project will help ensure more fresh, healthy food reaches the people who need it most”. 

 

Originally envisioned as a gradual expansion, the west side hub became an immediate priority this year as community partners anticipated growing demand. To help make the project possible, Portland Fruit Tree Project launched a fundraising campaign—and was met with extraordinary generosity.

 

The Starseed Foundation, moved by the growing need for fresh food access in Oregon, stepped forward with a transformational gift that fully funded the new refrigeration hub.

 

"This gift allows us to respond immediately rather than years from now," said Executive Director of Portland Fruit Tree Project Heather Kessler Fornes. "It means more fruit rescued, more volunteers engaged, and more healthy food delivered to local families."

 

Members of the media, community partners, local politicians, and the public are invited to celebrate the opening of the new harvest hub on Thursday, July 23, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Bethlehem House of Bread, 9055 SW Locust Street in Tigard. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the new facility, meet staff and volunteers from both organizations, and learn how this partnership will increase access to fresh, locally harvested produce throughout Washington County and the greater Portland region.

 

Please RSVP for press by emailing Kathrynh@portlandfruit.org

RSVP for guests at https://bethlehemhouseofbread.org/fruit-fridge-celebration

 

“If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Eat ’Em!”: Second Annual Community Blackberry Harvest Promotes Community Resilience —and Highlights Mismanagement On Ross Island - 07/01/26

PORTLAND, OR – [Insert Date] – The Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) is excited to launch its seasonal “If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Eat ’Em!” blackberry harvest and eradication campaign, inviting Portlanders to roll up their sleeves, safely harvest invasive Himalayan blackberries, and reclaim neglected urban green spaces.

 

This hands-on second annual paddling event to Ross Island with our river loving friends educates participants on safe foraging and will focus attention on the long-overdue ecological restoration of Ross Island, a site long neglected under Pamplin Media Group’s private ownership. In partnership with the Human Access Project (HAP), the Mosquito Fleet, and The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, the on water event will spotlight both the urgency of the island’s restoration and the community-led vision to reimagine the Willamette as a clean, accessible, public waterway.

 

HAP has been ramping up lobbying efforts with city and state officials, urging leadership to invest in real solutions to the toxic algae blooms and deteriorating shoreline conditions that threaten the island and river users. In parallel, they are actively fundraising for a multi-phase restoration campaign that would include debris removal, water quality monitoring, and long-term ecological rehabilitation. Their campaign has already secured early commitments from local donors and environmental groups, and public events like this one are a part of their broader outreach and advocacy strategy.

 

The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership will support this event by bringing out two of their 29-foot Big Canoes for up to 22 paddlers to get out to the island with the collective of BYO watercraft (non motorized only please) and swimmers headed to the island. Mosquito Fleet will offer both safety oversight, and provide loaner paddle watercraft through the online registration. Participants MUST register in advance @portlandfruit.org

 

“Ross Island is a forgotten gem with incredible potential,” said Scott Fogarty. “Through this collaboration with the Estuary Project and Portland Fruit Tree Project, we’re showing what it looks like when grassroots environmental justice meets joyful action. We want the public to see the island up close and understand what’s at stake—and how we can all take action to enjoy our city and take back the Willamette.”

Event Details:

“Blackberries may be invasive, but they’re also a symbol of resilience, and they are delicious to boot” says Heather Keisler Fornes, Executive Director at PFTP. “This campaign gives Portlanders a tangible way to confront land mismanagement, use what we have abundantly all around us, and support ongoing advocacy to restore access to our river and hold responsible parties accountable for cleaning up after themselves.”

 

About Portland Fruit Tree Project:
PFTP is a grassroots nonprofit that empowers Portlanders to build a more just and resilient food system through community harvests, workshops, and environmental stewardship.

 

About Human Access Project:
HAP is a nonprofit working to transform Portland’s relationship with the Willamette River through public access, cleanup, restoration, and advocacy. Their mission is simple: a swimmable, fishable river for everyone.

 

About Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership:
The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership is a non-profit, a National Estuary Program, and a collection of dedicated scientists, educators, and community members who are passionate about the Columbia River.

We focus on the lower 146 miles of the Columbia River, from Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean, including the tidally influenced portions of tributaries in that area. The watershed includes 28 cities, nine counties, and 45 school districts within the states of Oregon and Washington.

 

About Mosquito Fleet: 

Mosquito Fleet is a BIPOC and Queer-led Collective, dedicated to democratizing access to waterways as a means of supporting folks in cultivating a personal and meaningful connection with water. Our work aims to make progress toward real climate justice through on-water advocacy, popular education, and grassroots movement building. 

 

Media inquiries and interview requests:
Please contact Kathryn at Kathryn@portlandfruit.org or (503) 902-8550
 

 

“If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Eat ’Em!”: Second Annual Community Blackberry Harvest Promotes Community Resilience —and Highlights Mismanagement On Ross Island - 07/01/26

PORTLAND, OR – [Insert Date] – The Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) is excited to launch its seasonal “If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Eat ’Em!” blackberry harvest and eradication campaign, inviting Portlanders to roll up their sleeves, safely harvest invasive Himalayan blackberries, and reclaim neglected urban green spaces.

 

This hands-on second annual paddling event to Ross Island with our river loving friends educates participants on safe foraging and will focus attention on the long-overdue ecological restoration of Ross Island, a site long neglected under Pamplin Media Group’s private ownership. In partnership with the Human Access Project (HAP), the Mosquito Fleet, and The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, the on water event will spotlight both the urgency of the island’s restoration and the community-led vision to reimagine the Willamette as a clean, accessible, public waterway.

 

HAP has been ramping up lobbying efforts with city and state officials, urging leadership to invest in real solutions to the toxic algae blooms and deteriorating shoreline conditions that threaten the island and river users. In parallel, they are actively fundraising for a multi-phase restoration campaign that would include debris removal, water quality monitoring, and long-term ecological rehabilitation. Their campaign has already secured early commitments from local donors and environmental groups, and public events like this one are a part of their broader outreach and advocacy strategy.

 

The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership will support this event by bringing out two of their 29-foot Big Canoes for up to 22 paddlers to get out to the island with the collective of BYO watercraft (non motorized only please) and swimmers headed to the island. Mosquito Fleet will offer both safety oversight, and provide loaner paddle watercraft through the online registration. Participants MUST register in advance @portlandfruit.org

 

“Ross Island is a forgotten gem with incredible potential,” said Scott Fogarty. “Through this collaboration with the Estuary Project and Portland Fruit Tree Project, we’re showing what it looks like when grassroots environmental justice meets joyful action. We want the public to see the island up close and understand what’s at stake—and how we can all take action to enjoy our city and take back the Willamette.”

Event Details:

“Blackberries may be invasive, but they’re also a symbol of resilience, and they are delicious to boot” says Heather Keisler Fornes, Executive Director at PFTP. “This campaign gives Portlanders a tangible way to confront land mismanagement, use what we have abundantly all around us, and support ongoing advocacy to restore access to our river and hold responsible parties accountable for cleaning up after themselves.”

 

About Portland Fruit Tree Project:
PFTP is a grassroots nonprofit that empowers Portlanders to build a more just and resilient food system through community harvests, workshops, and environmental stewardship.

 

About Human Access Project:
HAP is a nonprofit working to transform Portland’s relationship with the Willamette River through public access, cleanup, restoration, and advocacy. Their mission is simple: a swimmable, fishable river for everyone.

 

About Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership:
The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership is a non-profit, a National Estuary Program, and a collection of dedicated scientists, educators, and community members who are passionate about the Columbia River.

We focus on the lower 146 miles of the Columbia River, from Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean, including the tidally influenced portions of tributaries in that area. The watershed includes 28 cities, nine counties, and 45 school districts within the states of Oregon and Washington.

 

About Mosquito Fleet: 

Mosquito Fleet is a BIPOC and Queer-led Collective, dedicated to democratizing access to waterways as a means of supporting folks in cultivating a personal and meaningful connection with water. Our work aims to make progress toward real climate justice through on-water advocacy, popular education, and grassroots movement building. 

 

Media inquiries and interview requests:
Please contact Kathryn at Kathryn@portlandfruit.org or (503) 902-8550