Fruit Tree Program

TreePeople has always connected communities with trees. In 1984, distributing fruit trees to low-income communities in Los Angeles became an important part of this mission. Since then, we've distributed thousands of fruit trees to be planted in backyards, on school campuses and in community gardens throughout L.A. County.

Why Fruit Trees?

Fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet, but for residents of low-income neighborhoods, fresh produce is often prohibitively expensive. Planted in the winter months, bare-root fruit trees can produce fruit as early as the following summer. These trees are easy to care for and can produce abundant food for up to 40 years; they also clean the air and water, and provide shade, beauty and oxygen.

How Does The Program Work?

Generous donations from TreePeople sponsors make the purchase and distribution of these trees possible. These sponsorships allow community partners to receive fruit trees and offer them at no cost to individuals. TreePeople representatives work directly with our partners in the community who are focused on building a deeper relationship and in targeted areas of need.

What Kind of Fruit Trees are Distributed?

All the fruit trees distributed thrive in Southern California’s climate. We typically offer apple, apricot, nectarine, peach and plum. These deciduous trees are bare-root (without soil) and must be planted within several days of distribution.

Most varieties of fruit trees offered by TreePeople may be grown permanently in pots. This option makes sense for people who may not have access to a yard or garden.

For more information on the Fruit Tree program, please contact Steve Hofvendahl at fruittree@treepeople.org or (818) 623-4865.

To donate to the Fruit Tree program, please contact membership@treepeople.org or call (818) 753-4631.

To learn about tree pests and diseases affecting fruit trees, click here.