How it Works

*Registration for the 2010 Fruit Tree Program is Closed.*

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. To participate in the program, qualified organizations must fill out an application.

After reviewing your application TreePeople will confirm your group's participation in the program and the logistics of the location, date and time of pick-up. Community partners are required to recruit and bring volunteers to help prune and prepare your trees before taking them for distribution. Community partners are also responsible for distributing trees to your recipients.

TreePeople offers free seasonal workshops including General Care & Maintenance of Fruit Trees (spring/fall) and Fruit Tree Pruning (summer/winter). Please contact us if your community group is interested in sponsoring one of these workshops at your site.

The basic steps

NOTE: Because the 2010 program is no longer accepting applications, the following material is for information purposes only.

1. Please read our Giveaway Guidelines before submitting an application.
2. Community groups can apply to the program using our online registration form or by faxing or mailing a printable application.
3. Groups selected for the program bring volunteers to prune and prepare their trees on their prearranged pick-up day.
4. The trees are transported by the community group back to their neighborhood for distribution to community members.

TreePeople is not involved with the final distribution to individuals, but we do require a sign-up list of names and addresses of individual recipients for archival purposes. TreePeople provides recipients with written planting and tree care instructions in English and Spanish. 

What kinds of fruit trees are available?

All the fruit trees offered thrive in Southern California’s climate. This year we are offering apple, apricot, nectarine, peach, plum and several species of citrus. The deciduous trees are bare-root (without soil) and must stay cool and damp before planting. All trees must be planted within a day or two of pick up.

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. However, recipients should be aware that planting trees permanently in pots requires additional work and care.

Detailed planting and care instructions are provided in both English and Spanish outlining the materials and steps necessary to ensure long term survival in pots or the ground. 

Fruit tree workshops

The following free workshops are available for fruit tree recipients: Fruit Tree Care (spring and fall); Fruit Tree Pruning (summer and winter); Pest Management (throughout the year). For more information, please contact Linda Eremita at training@treepeople.org or (818) 623-4878.

Learn about pests and diseases affecting fruit trees here.