Not only would the order support the City ’ s sustainability goals , but it also would provide reliable , quality food for San Franciscans facing hunger .
San Francisco Public Works heeded the call , and Nancy Wong of our community programs team established the City ’ s one-of-akind Urban Harvesting Program .
Now celebrating its eighth year , the program provides residents the opportunity to donate home-grown produce to the San Francisco / Marin Food Bank .
Public Works , upon request , will harvest the fruit , weigh it and donate it to the food bank . Last year , the program donated nearly 1,000 pounds of apples , lemons , plums , peaches and more and is well on its way to beat the number this year .
“ My hope is that the program will steadily grow and set an example for other harvesting programs nationwide ,” Wong said . Helping spread the word about urban harvesting is Isabel Wade , chief lemon ambassador of the San Francisco-based nonprofit , Just One Tree . She uses her lifelong commitment to environmental preservation and extensive experience in grassroots organizing to bring awareness to the public . With a goal of planting and identifying 12,000 lemon trees in San Francisco – the number estimated to meet San Francisco ’ s lemon needs for a year – Just One Tree has taken the initiative to educate people about the importance of urban self-reliance .
San Francisco now is home to about 4,000 lemon trees .
According to the Just One Tree website , 12,000 lemon trees will significantly reduce the City ’ s overall energy-footprint and make way for , “ San Francisco to be the first city in North America to be self-sufficient in a tree crop .”
Despite current efforts to increase community outreach and education , it ’ s important to note that San Francisco ’ s citrus tree population is currently under quarantine because of the Asian citrus psyllid that made its way to the Bay Area in mid-2016 . Although not dangerous to humans , the pest spreads toxins that cause a citrus disease called “ greening disease .” If the pest infects Northern California trees , we could very well find ourselves in a lemon drought of sorts , resulting in a rapid increase in lemon and citrus prices .
Residents with citrus trees should perform monthly inspections on the leaves of their trees and keep an eye out for a pest with brown , mottled wings . If you suspect your tree is infested , call ( 800 ) 491- 1899 to make a report .
Learn more about our urban harvesting program here .
January 2017 - San Francisco Public Works Newsletter