Produce to the People
(PttP) is a non-profit organization in San Francisco, dedicated
to aiding the food security and health of our community through
garden and food education, the creation of green jobs for youth,
and the growth, harvest, and dispersal of organic backyard and
community grown produce. We support the right of everyone in
our community to have access to fresh, nourishing food and believe
that empowering youth and adults to take part in their local
food system can create change that will systemically improve
the way we eat, and in turn our health and well being as a whole.
We are especially focused on ensuring access to healthy food
for underserved and low-income members of our community, and
green jobs to youth with barriers to employment. We believe
that we can only achieve food security through a collective
effort, and we engage in many community partnerships with non-profits,
businesses, schools and individuals to work together towards
a more sustainable and healthy food system in San Francisco.
Produce to the People (PttP) is comprised of our Backyard Harvest
Project, Community Gardens Project, and Youth Employment and
Education Program. PttP’s Backyard Harvest Project collects
excess produce from residential fruit trees and community gardens
in San Francisco, and distributes the food to low-income families
and individuals in our community through local food pantries,
soup kitchens and single room occupancy hotels. Our Youth/Community
Gardens Project partners with other local groups that have land
and need help to actuate the garden design, development and
maintenance of food producing community gardens and welcomes
community members to take part in the gardening process, learn
skills and receive harvested food in exchange, with the excess
produce being distributed through free food programs. Our Youth
Employment and Education Program creates green jobs and environmental
education for high school students, harvesting backyard fruit,
building and maintaining community gardens, growing vegetables,
making compost, and learning about food justice, environmental
stewardship and community organizing.
There are many ways you
can support Produce to the People:
Share your
bounty:
If you live in San Francisco and have a garden that produces
more fruits and veggies than you can eat, please click
here to register your garden or fruit trees for harvest.
We also harvest
from SFUSD gardens (especially over the summer when school is
out) and community gardens, if you happen to be an affiliate
of one of these and would like to participate, please contact
us via email.
Tell your
friends:
Our best publicity is word of mouth by people in the community.
Chat with your neighbors and friends that may have excess produce
or be interested in the work we do. If you're a wanderer, we'd
be happy to give you flyers if you feel comfortable leaving
them on doorsteps where you can see fruit trees.
Join our
newsletter:
You'll get periodic updates about major happenings with Produce
to the People. Don't worry, we don't sweat the small stuff,
so we won't bother you with it either! Please click
here to join our email newsletter.
Come to
an event:
You can check our news and events blog
for upcoming distribution dates and locations, community work
days, fundraisers and other events where Produce to the People
will be hosting or participating.
Make a
donation:
In the large scheme of things, our operating budget is pretty
small, so every little bit really does count. We accept donations
via our fiscal sponsor, San Francisco Parks Trust. Please visit
our donation page for more information.
