Portland Fruit Tree Project
Portland Fruit Tree Project is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses volunteer-driven harvesting to redirect residential fruit to food-insecure populations while providing tree care, orchard stewardship, and food equity programs across the Portland Metro area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Portland Fruit Tree Project does
Portland Fruit Tree Project (PFTP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon that addresses urban food waste and food insecurity through a volunteer-driven fruit harvesting and tree care model. The organization recruits and coordinates volunteers to harvest fruit from residential properties and two organization-maintained community orchards (Parkrose Community Orchard and Sabin Community Orchard) across the Portland Metro area, then redistributes the produce to partner organizations serving food-insecure populations, including food banks, senior centers, culturally specific food pantries, schools, and community groups. Beyond core harvesting, PFTP operates a Community Pruning Program providing low-cost fruit tree care to low-income residents, a Fruit Tree Index GIS-based inventory documenting urban fruit trees via community science, and educational workshops on canning, pruning, and mason bee stewardship.
PFTP generates revenue through a diversified mix: monthly recurring donations via the "Fruit Buds" program with a $10/month minimum, fee-for-service tree care for residential clients, grant funding from sources including the Oregon Department of Forestry and One Tree Planted, biannual fundraising appeals supported by matching gift partners, product sales (jams, jellies, PFTP merchandise, home orchard supplies) through a Square-hosted online store, and an AmeriCorps partnership through the Harvest VISTA program that subsidizes seasonal staffing. The organization serves three primary segments: Portland-area homeowners with fruit trees seeking to redirect excess harvest, food-insecure community members receiving donated produce through partner channels, and low-income residents needing affordable tree care. Its technology stack is intentionally lightweight, consisting of a WordPress website, a Jotform-based Fruit Finder outreach tool, a Square online storefront, and the GIS-based Fruit Tree Index, with the operational backbone being manual volunteer labor and in-person community coordination rather than software.
Portland Fruit Tree Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Portland Fruit Tree Project
- Legal name
- Portland Fruit Tree Project
- Website
- https://portlandfruit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Portland Fruit Tree Project is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses volunteer-driven harvesting to redirect residential fruit to food-insecure populations while providing tree care, orchard stewardship, and food equity programs across the Portland Metro area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Portland Fruit Tree Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Food Security and Urban Agriculture Services
- NAICS
- Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tree Pruning & Crown Management (HSAIADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tree Planting & Transplanting (HSAIADAE), Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization) (HSAIADAD), Forest Berries & Wild Fruit Harvesting (AFAMAFAE), Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL)
Keywords
Where Portland Fruit Tree Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Portland Fruit Tree Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Recurring Donations (Fruit Bud Program): Monthly recurring donation program called 'Fruit Buds' providing consistent, foundational operational support. Donors giving $10+ monthly receive perks including quarterly updates, exclusive opportunities, early workshop access, and seasonal tree care registration priority.
- Fee-for-Service Tree Care: Tree care services including consultations, workshops, and full service care provided for a fee to help fund community programs.
- Grant Funding: Grants from organizations including Oregon Department of Forestry supporting community pruning programs and equity-focused initiatives.
- Product Sales: Online store selling jams, jellies, PFTP merchandise, home orchard supplies, and home orchard services.
- Seasonal Fundraising Campaigns: Bi-annual fundraising appeals including Spring Appeal campaigns with matching gift opportunities from partners like The Ohana Foundation.
- AmeriCorps Partnership: Partnership with Harvest Against Hunger through Harvest VISTA program to host AmeriCorps Summer Associates who support harvest and stewardship activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Fruit Bud monthly recurring donation program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Portland Fruit Tree Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Portland Fruit Tree Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes volunteer-driven fruit harvesting from residential trees and community orchards in the Portland Metro area, redistributing the harvested produce through partner organizations to households experiencing food insecurity. The organization also provides fee-for-service and grant-funded tree care (pruning, pest management), manages two community orchards (Parkrose and Sabin), and supports educational programming on food preservation and orchard stewardship.
Product overview
Portland Fruit Tree Project operates as a community-based nonprofit offering a suite of interconnected programs centered on urban fruit tree harvesting, tree care, and food equity. The core offerings include fruit harvest services (both organized volunteer harvests and DIY drop-off options), tree care services (including a Community Pruning Program for low-income residents), and community orchard management. Supporting programs include a Fruit Tree Index for community science documentation, volunteer and donor programs (Fruit Bud), an online store for merchandise and preserves, and educational workshops on canning, pruning, and mason bee stewardship. All programs work together to reduce food waste, increase access to fresh produce, and strengthen community connections around urban agriculture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fruit Harvest Services Community-based fruit harvesting program where volunteers harvest fruit from residential trees and community orchards, then donate the produce to partner organizations serving households experiencing food insecurity.
- DIY Harvest and Drop-Off Program Self-service program allowing community members to pick fruit themselves and drop it off at designated Fruit Fridge locations for the organization to distribute to partner recipients.
- Tree Care Services Fee-for-service tree care including pruning, pest management, and summer tree care at residential sites and community orchards, offered to increase tree health and yield.
- Community Pruning Program Low-cost fruit tree pruning services provided to low-income Portland residents, funded through Oregon Department of Forestry grants to enable access to proper tree care.
- Community Orchards Organization-maintained orchard spaces including Parkrose Community Orchard and Sabin Community Orchard, where volunteers participate in soil restoration, tree stewardship, plant sales, and community gatherings.
- Fruit Tree Index GIS-based inventory and stewardship program cataloging fruit trees across the city with community science participation.
- Online Store Square-hosted online store selling jams, jellies, PFTP merchandise, home orchard supplies, and home orchard services to support organizational operations.
- Education and Workshops Canning workshops, pruning workshops, and mason bee stewardship education provided to build community skills in food preservation and tree care.
- Fruit Finder Jotform-based tool allowing community members to submit addresses of trees with falling fruit for the organization to send outreach postcards and potentially register for future harvests.
Quantifiable outcome
- 28,382 lbs of fruit donated in 2025
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Portland Fruit Tree Project
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Portland Fruit Tree Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Portland Fruit Tree Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Harvest Against Hunger (Harvest VISTA Program)coreAmeriCorps partnership through Harvest VISTA program. Summer Associates help reduce food waste and expand access to nutritious food during growing season. Portland Fruit Tree Project hosts AmeriCorps members to develop and strengthen community food security programs.
- St. Francis Dining Hall at Catholic CharitiescoreCulinary Director Darius Jones coordinates receiving donated fruit. Prior to pandemic, Darius worked as whole animal butcher at Urban Farmer at The Nines Hotel. St. Francis Dining Hall provides meals and food boxes for immigrant and migrant worker communities.
- Mudbone GrowncoreJoint fruit tree planting project serving Black families for generations; received blueberry harvests for weekly CSA distribution; partnership for orchard installations
- Familias en AccionminorCommunity partner receiving donated plums and supporting food distribution efforts to Latino families and community members
- Asian Food PantryminorNew 2021 partnership for persimmon distribution providing culturally appropriate fresh produce to Asian community members
- Oregon Food BankcorePartner organization in food security network; CEO Susannah Morgan participated in PFTP virtual happy hour discussion on food systems
- Deacon ConstructionminorCorporate volunteer team completed juniper hedge removal, trellis installation for espalier apples, and signage at Sabin Community Orchard in single volunteer day
- Shade Equity CoalitionminorCoalition including 350PDX and Trees for Life Oregon working on shade equity advocacy; signed letter to governor regarding housing and tree considerations
- Parkrose Community OrchardcoreCommunity orchard location managed by PFTP with ongoing projects including spring plant sales with Sparrowhawk Native Plants
- Sabin Community OrchardcoreCommunity orchard location managed by PFTP with ongoing soil testing and restoration, juniper removal, and infrastructure projects
- Sparrowhawk Native PlantsminorCollaboration for plant sale events at Parkrose Community Orchard offering edible and sustainable plant selections
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Portland Fruit Tree Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Food Forward: Los Angeles-based nonprofit that gleans surplus produce from backyard fruit trees and farms for distribution to food-insecure communities. Operates the same volunteer-driven harvest model and partners with food banks and pantries, making it the closest functional analog to PFTP at larger scale.
- City Fruit: Seattle-based nonprofit focused on urban fruit tree stewardship, harvesting, and community orchard management. Directly comparable as a Pacific Northwest peer operating nearly identical programs (fruit harvest, community orchards, tree care, food donation).
- Village Harvest: San Jose-based volunteer-driven fruit gleaning nonprofit that harvests fruit from residential trees and donates to hunger-relief agencies. Closely mirrors PFTP's backyard harvest + food bank distribution model with regional adaptation.
- Urban Gleaners: Portland-based nonprofit that recovers surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, and farms for distribution to food-insecure populations. Local Portland peer operating in the same metro food-rescue ecosystem, though more retail-restaurant focused than fruit-tree focused.
- Boston Area Gleaners: Massachusetts nonprofit that organizes volunteers to harvest surplus produce from farms and backyard trees for donation to food pantries. Comparable volunteer-driven gleaning model with farm/backyard dual sourcing.
- The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to planting fruit trees in low-income communities, schools, and urban areas. Direct peer in the fruit-tree planting and food-equity space, with overlap in shade-equity and environmental justice framing.
- Backyard Harvest: Idaho-based gleaning nonprofit that harvests fruit from backyard trees and distributes to food banks. Highly comparable volunteer-harvest model with similar homeowner engagement and food-security mission.
Emerging players
- Food Runners: San Francisco nonprofit that picks up surplus food from businesses and delivers it directly to agencies serving those in need. Adjacent food-rescue peer operating a similar last-mile volunteer delivery model, though focused on prepared food rather than tree fruit.
Broad incumbents
- Friends of Trees: Portland-based nonprofit that plants and cares for urban trees and native plants across the metro area. Larger incumbent in Portland's urban forestry ecosystem, broader tree focus (not fruit-specific) but shares volunteer planting events, tree stewardship programs, and shade-equity advocacy.
- Solid Ground: Seattle-based anti-poverty nonprofit addressing hunger, housing, and community development. Broader incumbent in the Pacific Northwest food-security ecosystem; potential channel partner or umbrella organization rather than direct gleaning peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Portland Fruit Tree Project social profiles
Digital presencePortland Fruit Tree Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Portland Fruit Tree Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Portland Fruit Tree Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Portland Fruit Tree Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Portland Fruit Tree Project
What does Portland Fruit Tree Project do?
Portland Fruit Tree Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes volunteer-driven fruit harvesting from residential trees and community orchards in the Portland Metro area, redistributing the harvested produce through partner organizations to households experiencing food insecurity. The organization also provides fee-for-service and grant-funded tree care (pruning, pest management), manages two community orchards (Parkrose and Sabin), and supports educational programming on food preservation and orchard stewardship.
Is Portland Fruit Tree Project a public or private company?
Portland Fruit Tree Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Portland Fruit Tree Project founded?
Portland Fruit Tree Project was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Portland Fruit Tree Project based?
Portland Fruit Tree Project is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Portland Fruit Tree Project make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Recurring Donations (Fruit Bud Program) is the primary driver. The others are fee-for-Service Tree Care, grant Funding, product Sales, seasonal Fundraising Campaigns and ameriCorps Partnership.
Who are Portland Fruit Tree Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Food Forward, City Fruit, Village Harvest, Urban Gleaners, Boston Area Gleaners, The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Backyard Harvest. Food Runners is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Friends of Trees and Solid Ground.
Does Portland Fruit Tree Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Portland Fruit Tree Project.
What industry is Portland Fruit Tree Project in?
Portland Fruit Tree Project's product category is Community Food Security and Urban Agriculture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIADAA, Tree Pruning & Crown Management, with a secondary code of HSAIADAE, Tree Planting & Transplanting. Its NAICS code is 1132 and its SIC code is 700.