A Year of Growth2023 proved to be yet another productive and rewarding year of harvests & programming! While the fruit yield was a bit unpredictable this year due to the spring & summer's abundant rains and hailstorms, Community Fruit Rescue accomplished the following:
Our organization relies almost entirely on individual donations from tree stewards, volunteers, and other supporters. Despite our success this year, we are currently underfunded and are at risk of having to cut some of our plans for next year. To ensure Community Fruit Rescue can continue supporting the Boulder community, we need to raise $20,000 by the end of this year. Next year is looking to be another BIG year of fruit production in Boulder, and we need your support as we expand our work and serve additional communities. Can you help us grow? Your donation will enable CFR to:
Any amount, large or small, makes a tremendous impact on our small organization. Thank you for helping us grow! Community Fruit Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization; donations made to our organization are tax deductible. EIN: 83-3022407 |
Help us Reach our GoalLooking for another way to donate? Make a contribution through PayPal or mail a check to: Community Fruit Rescue | 2861 Ellison Place | Boulder, CO 80304 |
2023 Harvest Season Totals
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lbs of fruit harvested
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beneficiary groups
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Experience a CFR harvest in less than two minutes!
Many thanks to CFR volunteer Camden Aguilar for creating this video!
Our Community Impact
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Boulder Food Rescue"Boulder Food Rescue deeply values all of the local and fresh fruit that we are able to distribute thanks to Community Fruit Rescue. As a partner of Community Fruit Rescue, Boulder Food Rescue has received over 900 lbs of fresh fruit donations this season. This fruit is incorporated into our Food Rescue program where it is distributed at our No-Cost Grocery Programs. These programs reach over 6,000 individuals throughout Boulder County.
Earlier this year, Boulder Food Rescue surveyed our participants about what kind of food they wished to be receiving from these No-Cost Grocery Programs, and they overwhelmingly told us that they would like to receive more fresh fruits and vegetables. This feedback makes our partnership with Community Fruit Rescue particularly exciting, as the fruit that they rescue and donate to us is some of the freshest fruit one can get." |
Luvin' Arms Animal Sanctuary"Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary's 2023 summer was enhanced by our partnership with Community Fruit Rescue (CFR). CFR's generous donation of fresh apples profoundly impacted our 140 animal residents. Their work embodies our shared commitment to reducing food waste, promoting sustainability, and providing healthy, local food for both human and non-human animals.
We are immensely grateful for CFR's amazing work. In aligning with our mission, they are dedicated to minimizing waste and making a positive impact. CFR's commitment to coexisting with local wildlife and partnering with organizations like ours demonstrates its dedication and commitment to making a difference. Luvin Arms is deeply thankful for our partnership with Community Fruit Rescue, and we look forward to creating more positive change together in the future." |
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Michelle, Boulder Tree Steward"We live in the Foothills west of Boulder and we never know how much fruit our trees will produce in a season. When we realized we had an unusually high amount of apples in our 100 year-old tree, we wanted to find an organization that would put the valuable apples to good use. Community Fruit Rescue was just the organization we were looking for. Not only will our apples be shared with many in need, we help keep a healthy relationship with the local wildlife, the bears. We had already had a close visit with a very healthy large black bear and we know the importance of keeping them out of our fenced-in yard and away from people and our dogs. Having Community Fruit Harvest come and harvest our fruit quickly meant we could still share the fruit, but not worry about the health of the tree and the bears.
I will definitely ask CFR for help every year moving forward and will also donate to this very worthwhile organization." |
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Elise, Harvest Leader Volunteer"Growing up in New Hampshire, apples were an integral part of the transition from summer to fall, and visiting pick-your-own orchards was a ritual that fed and entertained my family. Moving to Boulder in 2019, I was surprised by both the lack of orchards and the abundance of apple trees in our neighbors’ yards that often went unpicked.
In my search for fruit to pick in Boulder, I came across Community Fruit Rescue, and I volunteered for many harvests during the bumper crop year of 2021. It didn't take long to realize that harvests provide a great opportunity to meet like minded community members while working together to eliminate local food insecurity. One of my favorite aspects of working with CFR is its constantly fluctuating nature--between the homeowners, the volunteers, the trees, and the weather, you never know exactly what you are going to get on any given harvest day. The variety of possible experiences requires one to adapt and adjust, encouraging a state that I like to think of as "apple zen". During one 2022 harvest, several new volunteers gathered to pick apples at a home off Baseline Rd. Even though the number of apples on the tree did not match the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the volunteers had a great time and came away as good friends thanks to their openness and their ability to adapt to the circumstances." |
Other Ways to Give
Get Involved
Share this page! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and help spread the word about CFR; sign up to volunteer (and encourage friends & family to join you!), schedule a harvest (and ask your neighbors with fruit trees to do the same!), apply to join our Board of Directors, volunteer your skills in one of our committees, and sign up for our email list. |
Donate Equipment
We are always in need of equipment each harvest season! Make an in-kind donation of one or more of the following:
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Shop at King Soopers
Add Community Fruit Rescue as your charity of choice through your King Soopers and City Market accounts and CFR will receive a donation at no added cost to you! It's easy: create a digital account with one or both stores, link your loyalty card to CFR, and start shopping. Don't forget to enter your loyalty card information at checkout! |
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