Community Fruit Rescue
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Harvesting and distributing the abundant, overlooked fruit that grows in Boulder Colorado
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To get involved, whether as a volunteer fruit picker or a fruit tree owner, visit http://fruitrescue.org/join.
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Hundreds of thousands of pounds of fruit grows nearly effortlessly in cities throughout the world. In Boulder, Colorado, apples, pears, peaches and plums fall in piles on the ground, creating a mess for homeowners and a dangerous attraction for bears. Meanwhile, low-income populations struggle to find healthy and affordable food, while those better off drive to supermarkets to buy food from across the globe, often produced and transported at great environmental and social cost. We think it makes more sense to lead our community to the amazing food that already grows all around us, to gather with neighbors to harvest the collective bounty, and to ensure that it is shared with all in our community, especially those who are struggling to find fresh, healthy food. That’s why we organize neighborhood harvest events, where public and private trees bearing large amounts of fruit are harvested by neighbors and friends and their children in the course of a fun afternoon, providing fruit to take home by all the participants with plenty of extra to share with food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters.
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Community Fruit Rescue is a project of Falling Fruit (http://fallingfruit.org), Boulder Food Rescue (http://boulderfoodrescue.org), 350 Boulder (http://350colorado.org/boulder-county/), Boulder Bear Coalition (http://boulderbearcoalition.org), and the Boulder Edible Landscaping Working Group.
07/30/2026
Join Angela for an apple harvest this evening from 5:30 to 7:30pm that will help remove an attractant for black bears! 🐻🍎 This is also a great opportunity to spend a couple hours outside, meet wonderful people, and make a positive difference within your community.
Sign up now! harvest.fruitrescue.org/harvestlist.php
This week, KGNU Community Radio highlighted the work of the Chokecherry Collaborative and Community Fruit Rescue's role in coordinating harvests throughout the region. We're honored to support this Tribal-led initiative and grateful to everyone helping return this traditional food to Northern Arapaho communities.
Listen to the story here: https://kgnu.org/were-working-together-to-do-something-good-for-our-arapaho-people-community-fruit-rescues-chokecherry-harvest/
07/11/2026
Kick off the Chokecherry Collaborative efforts for 2026 with an evening at the Longmont Museum to learn about the Collaborative and hear from Northern Arapaho partners about the significance of chokecherries for cultural ceremonies and food sovereignty. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Register today: eventbrite.com/e/community-chokecherry-collaborative-kickoff-tickets-1992599232945
07/10/2026
Chokecherries are ripening fast! Help us pick them at these two harvest events early next week!
Volunteers will be using ladders as well as sorting fruit at these harvests. All of the chokecherries harvested will be donated to Tribal Communities on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming for cultural, ceremonial, and traditional uses.
Make sure to reserve your spot at harvest.fruitrescue.org/harvestlist.php
07/10/2026
The wait is over. . . CFR’s 2026 harvest scheduling is officially open, and another plentiful harvest season is on the horizon! 🍎🍐🍑
If you have fruit trees, register your site and/or request your harvest today at fruitrescue.org/tree-stewards!
Please note that ALL tree stewards, even returning ones, must fill out our harvest request form each year. This helps our team ensure a successful harvest for all.
07/09/2026
‼️LAST MINUTE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HARVEST CHOKECHERRIES TOMORROW, JULY 10TH FROM 9AM TO 11AM IN NORTH BOULDER ‼️
These chokecherries will be donated to Tribal communities on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Chokecherries have a very short harvest window, so we want to make sure we get them before they’re gone, while leaving a significant portion for wildlife. Volunteers will harvest from the ground and on ladders, and help sort the fruit on-site.
Sign up now at harvest.fruitrescue.org/harvestlist.php
07/02/2026
Community Fruit Rescue is excited to begin another year of chokecherry harvests through our role in the Wind River Chokecherry Collaborative - a uniquely local partnership led by members of the Northern Arapaho tribe to help restore access to chokecherries, a traditional food with deep cultural and ceremonial significance.
There are several ways to be part of the effort this summer:
Host a CFR harvest or self-harvest chokecherries from your property
- Join us a volunteer harvester
- Attend our community kickoff event
- Help clean and prepare fruit after harvests
Learn more about each opportunity and how you can get involved:
www.fruitrescue.org/chokecherries
06/30/2026
🐞 Lots of little ladybugs joined us for Sunday’s pre-season harvest!
With bears frequenting this homeowner’s property and fruit tree, our volunteers harvested 130 lbs of apples to help reduce wildlife conflicts. The fruit was then donated to a local farm where a lucky herd of goats will get to enjoy a delicious treat 🐐🍏
06/24/2026
Join us in North Boulder on Sunday, June 28th from 4:00 to 6:00pm for a pre-season harvest of unripe fruit. This harvest will help protect both bears and people, and the fruit will be donated to sanctuary animals! 🐻🍎
By removing fruit before it ripens, we can reduce attractants in bear prone areas and while supporting healthy human-wildlife coexistence. It’s also a great opportunity to spend a few hours outdoors, connect with fellow community members, and make a positive impact right here in Boulder County.
To register as a volunteer, go to https://harvest.fruitrescue.org/harvestlist.php
06/19/2026
If you have fruit trees, we’d love to hear from you! 🌳🍏
As we prepare for the upcoming harvest season, we’re gathering updates from Tree Stewards across our community. Whether our trees are thriving and loaded with fruit, producing just a little, or not bearing fruit at all, your observations help CFR plan for a successful season.
Please take a few minutes to share what you’re seeing on your property by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/MxQfKhgZPFY9ZMM38
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Boulder, CO
80304