Spokane Edible Tree Project

Background

Volunteer Relations

SETP is a new organization with a growing volunteer base. Learn techniques to increase volunteer recruitment and retention.

View Details >>

Marketing and Visibility

As a young organization, marketing and visibility are extremely important for SETP.

View Details >>

Donor Relations

SETP uses a variety of methods to recruit and engage with tree owners.

View Details >>

Produce Recovery

Market Recovery

In 2017 SETP expanded its produce recovery efforts to include the local farmer's market.

View Details >>

Fruit Tree Gleaning Tools

Spokane Edible Tree Project relies on a limited amount of gleaning equipment to harvest fruit. This is a guide to equipment regularly used by SETP.

View Details >>

Gleaning Procedures

Spokane Edible Tree Project has created a checklist for volunteers who lead gleans. This is an outline of checklist items that may be applicable to other organizations gleaning from fruit trees.

View Details >>

Backyard Harvests

Spokane's neighborhoods are filled with fruit trees. SETP works to educate and empower the community to take better advantage of these resources.

View Details >>

Fruit Tree Education Series

SETP is committed to educating the community about fruit tree care and food preservation.

View Details >>

Gleaning Fruit Trees

SETP works with a network of regional fruit growers to host an annual end of season glean.

View Details >>

Spokane Edible Tree Project (SETP) was founded in 2013 by former Harvest Against Hunger Americorps VISTA Kate Burke. Through her work in a produce recovery position at Second Harvest Food Bank, she recognized the abundance of fruit trees in Spokane County and noticed that much of this fruit goes to waste. SETP was formed to fill this gap in the system and to empower the community to share the resources that are so abundantly available to them. SETP became a certified 501(c)(3) in 2015. The organization is currently run by community volunteers and a Harvest Against Hunger AmeriCorps VISTA.

In 2016, SETP recruited their first Harvest Against Hunger AmeriCorps VISTA, who served as the program coordinator for the organization. The second-year VISTA (2017-2018) expanded the program to include gleaning produce from the Spokane Farmers’ Market. Their third-year VISTA (2018-2019) continues to coordinate gleaning, outreach, volunteer recruitment, grant-writing, and educational programming. Together, the work of the three VISTA’s prevented more than 100,000 pounds of produce from going to waste in Spokane County. Additionally, WSU Extension of Spokane County has been a valuable partner for SETP, supporting and supervising the AmeriCorps VISTA. The extension office has also been an essential partner in developing SETP’s educational program.