Website Guides You to Free, Locally Grown California Produce

The website Falling Fruit will guide you to fruit that can be picked for free, such as oranges hanging over a fence next to a public park. Photo by Bea Karnes, Patch

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We’re lucky here in California to have the opportunity to grow food all year long. In suburban neighborhoods right now you can find trees heavy with oranges, lemons, grapefruits, persimmons, pomegranates and more. Gardeners have sown winter crops of lettuce and other greens, carrots and other root crops, and herbs.

Unfortunately, some food goes to waste because homeowners can’t use all of the food they’ve grown. A website, Falling Fruit, attempts to connect people seeking nutritious food with sources in their in neighborhoods. The website cautions people to ask permission before taking fruit that’s on private property.

You’ll also be directed to food sources that are grown on public property, such as nut or fruit trees in parks.

Organizations that glean food, pick food from farmers’ fields after they’ve already been harvested, are also listed, “Our sharing page lists hundreds of local organizations - planting public orchards and food forests, picking otherwise-wasted fruits and vegetables from city trees and farmers’ fields, and sharing with neighbors and the needy.”

If you have enough citrus in your yard to start a fruit stand but have no desire to make money from your bounty, you may also be able to connect with an organization willing to come to your home to pick the fruit, and then deliver it to a food bank.

Do you know of a great local organization that distributes freshly grown food? Tell us in comments.