Portland Fruit Tree Project Expands Fresh Food Distribution With New West Side Harvest Hub - 06/29/26

Grand Opening Celebration

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

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

Community Harvest Campaign Launches As Federal Food Cuts Threaten Oregon Families Portland Fruit Tree Project And Regional Partners Call On Gardeners And Fruit Tree Owners To Donate Surplus Produce This 2026 Harvest Season (Photo) - 06/03/26

Portland, OR — June 3, 2026 — As federal USDA funding reductions threaten a significant portion of the fresh food distributed through Oregon’s emergency food system, local nonprofits are mobilizing community members to help fill the gap through a collaborative seasonal campaign.

Portland Fruit Tree Project is officially launching its 2026 harvest season—the organization’s 20th season of community harvesting and food redistribution—inviting residents across Portland and surrounding communities to register fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and vines for harvesting.

Since 2006, Portland Fruit Tree Project has connected homeowners with volunteers to harvest thousands of pounds of fruit that might otherwise go unused, redistributing it through local food access organizations and mutual aid networks. The Portland Fruit Tree Project’s 2026 Urban Orchard Harvest Season is funded in part by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), supporting equitable access to fresh, locally grown food while reducing food waste and strengthening climate-resilient community food systems.

“Every year we see how much abundance already exists in our neighborhoods,” said Heather Keisler Fornes, the Executive Director of Portland Fruit Tree Project. “As we enter our 20th season, our staff and board are committed to making this our largest and most impactful harvest season yet—ensuring more fresh fruit reaches more Portlanders than ever before.”

Also added into the gleaning programming for its second year, the Grow To Donate program is off to a strong start with hundreds of pounds already donated and pledged to Portland-based pantries. Led by Portland Fruit Tree Project and Lift Urban Portland, this program encourages Portland residents to donate excess garden produce, glean produce at metro area farm sites, and register fruit trees for community harvests during the 2026 growing season.

“We know the power of community in solving local challenges,” added Stephanie Barr, Executive Director of Lift Urban Portland. “Grow to Donate is about turning gardens into solutions and fresh food into shared resilience.”

According to Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and regional food system advocates, recent federal funding cuts are projected to reduce millions of pounds of food available to Oregon food banks and pantries this year, with fresh produce among the hardest-hit categories. These reductions come at a time when food pantry usage across Oregon remains near historic highs, increasing pressure on local organizations to source nutritious food through community-based solutions.

Grow to Donate offers residents a simple, accessible way to contribute fresh produce directly to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

How Community Members Can Participate

Gardeners & CSA Members
Residents with home gardens, raised beds, allotments, or produce shares can pledge to donate surplus fruits and vegetables throughout the growing season. Even small donations help pantry partners, who collaborate to coordinate distribution.

Fruit Tree Owners
People with fruit or nut trees, vines, or shrubs that regularly produce more than they can use are encouraged to register their plants with Portland Fruit Tree Project. Volunteer harvest crews led by staff and trained volunteer leads help pick and distribute produce to community organizations serving households across the region.

Volunteers Needed
Community members can also support the community harvest campaign by volunteering at www.portlandfruit.org as harvesters, produce sorters, delivery drivers, and outreach ambassadors. Volunteer harvesters always take home as much as they wish to, and the rest goes to pantries through Portland Fruit Tree Project and Grow to Donate distribution networks.

To take action against food waste and increase access to fresh produce:

• Register your fruit tree(s) with the Portland Tree Project for larger harvests of excess fruit.

• Sign up as a volunteer to harvest in backyards, harvest at community orchards, and glean produce on local farms. 

• Pledge your excess garden produce through Grow to Donate for self-harvesting and drop off (pick up may also available on a limited basis).