Forest Service selects The Giving Grove to expand community orchards nationwide

Kansas City-based nonprofit The Giving Grove, which works to increase access to sustainable fresh food through community orchards and food forests, is launching a new initiative to collaborate with underserved communities nationwide to establish and maintain community orchards and food forests.

This five-year project from The Giving Grove and its affiliate partners is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"The Forest Service’s support will significantly boost our capacity to supply local communities with resources and knowledge to plant and maintain urban orchards," said Erica Kratofil, co-executive director of The Giving Grove. "This initiative speaks to the value of food forests and community orchards in creating lasting access to fresh, locally grown produce, enhancing green spaces and fostering environmental stewardship in urban settings."

The Giving Grove, founded in 2013, and its affiliate network have established more than 620 community orchards across 14 U.S. cities. These orchards are tended by local volunteers who help sustain food production in their neighborhoods, providing free access to fruits, nuts and berries while promoting permaculture practices and environmental benefits. Support from the Forest Service will help The Giving Grove network reach more neighborhoods facing environmental and economic injustices.

By increasing the tree canopy and supporting biodiversity, Giving Grove orchards contribute to healthier urban environments, intercept stormwater, improve air quality and sequester carbon. Each orchard can produce more than 7,500 servings of fresh food annually, supporting communities that experience limited access to nutritious foods.

"Urban orchards offer an extraordinary combination of benefits — from providing fresh, free food to enriching green spaces and creating a sustainable, community-led food system," Kratofil said. "We’re honored that the U.S. Forest Service has recognized the impact of our mission, and we look forward to helping more communities establish these vital food resources."