Empowering residents of New Orleans to help feed their neighbors by collecting fresh, local fruit that would otherwise go to waste
A little history...
The New Orleans Tree Fruit Project began in January 2011 with a 12-foot ladder and a few dedicated volunteers. During that first citrus season, NOFTP harvested over 3,000 pounds of fruit from six New Orleans neighborhoods and an orchard outside of the city. The fruit reached over 800 families as part of an Emergency Food Supply Box from Second Harvest Food Bank.
January 2012 marked NOFTP’s second Citrus Season and a 10,000-pound goal was set. From January to March 2012, NOFTP tackled 26 urban harvests, 3 orchard gleanings, worked with over 35 volunteers and harvested over 10,000 pounds of fruit!!! Citrus Season 2013 has even higher aspirations but more aggressive challenges. To accomplish our goal of harvesting 15,000 pounds of fruit in 2013, we need one..big....thing....
For the first 18 months of operation, NOFTP was able to share a vehicle with a local community partner. Often times harvests had to be limited due to scheduling conflicts.
As attention to the services NOFTP provides continues to grow, the need to have a vehicle solely for harvesting purposes is crucial as it will maximize the number of harvests that can take place, get staff and equipment to and from harvests and most importantly, it will be used to deliver fruit to organizations that feed the hungry.
To sum it up, we need a van!
The New Orleans Fruit Tree Project operates through the generosity of tree owners who donate their bounty for harvesting and the hard work of volunteers that want to give back to their community and spend a couple of hours in sun. The fruits of our labors (!) reach hundreds in a city struggling with food insecurity and a lack of access to fresh, local produce.
Our concept is simple and our needs are few. The impact that a group of volunteers, a couple of ladders and a cargo van can make is enormous. With limited resources, NOFTP has harvested over 14,000 pounds of fruit from the Greater New Orleans area. By supporting us through Kickstarter, more harvests will take place and more fruit will reach those who are truly in need of healthy foods.
Want more information? Check us out at www.nolafruit.org
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
The biggest challenge facing NOFTP in the upcoming years will be creating an organization that is not dependent on grants and fundraising, but rather supports itself through socially responsible ventures, such as marketing fruit that is unusable to food banks (i.e. lemons and limes) to restaurants and bars. When an organization must scramble to keep the lights on, its hard to focus on the objectives and the reasons why it exists. Financially security, although it is a challenge, is something we as an organization strive towards so that we can focus on harvesting fruit, keeping it from going to waste, and getting it to those who need it most.
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109
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Funding period
Sep 25, 2012 -
Oct 25, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 2 backed
- Megan Nuismer 374 friends
- Website: linkedin.com
Pledge $10 or more
42 backers
An official "Will Climb Trees for Food" NOFTP bumper sticker and a thank you note from the volunteers and staff of NOFTP
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013Pledge $50 or more
12 backers
Sometimes you need a small step to reach that low hanging fruit. For a $50 donation, a rung on one of our beloved 4-foot ladders will be dedicated in your honor. You will receive a dedication photo and a jar of homemade Satsuma marmalade for your donation!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $100 or more
11 backers
Our 6-foot ladders maximize our reach and are used for almost every harvest. For a $100 donation, one of the rungs of our most utilized ladders will be dedicated in your honor! In addition you'll receive a gift basket full of fresh, seasonal fruit and a photo of your Honorary Rung.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $250 or more
1 backer
Sometimes we just aren't satisfied until every last piece of fruit is picked from a tree. But when a tree is 18 feet tall we need some serious equipment to make it happen! This calls for our 12 -foot ladder- which helps us reach amazing heights and a ton of fruit! For a $250 pledge, one of the rungs on our 'special reserve' will be dedicated in your honor. In addition to your Honorary Rung, you will receive a jar of homemade Satsuma marmalade, a gift basket of seasonal fruit, and a NOFTP t-shirt!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
