Urban Gleaning Program

My only concern with this program and food collected from D10 is that there is a potential for our soil and air to be so full of toxic heavy metals from years of industrial abuse that it's not fit for growing food, and that the city may find itself liable if it helps distribute it.  Jennifer Gorospe, a graduate student at San Jose State, is currently doing a Masters thesis on heavy metal levels in our area, the results of which should be made available in the coming year.

Still, it sounds like an awesome program!

DPW is working with San Francisco residents and businesses to help collect and distribute food grown from trees and community gardens for distribution to shelters, food banks and other communities of need. You can participate by registering your fruit trees and coordinating with DPW as a part of the Urban Gleaning Program.


Give Back and Help Enhance Access to Healthy and Nutritious Food in the Community
The goal of this program is to:

• Provide all of San Francisco residents access to healthy and nutritious food;
• Reduce waste of locally grown food;
• Create a food distribution system that targets communities who normally do not have access to fresh and healthy foods.

Join Today!
Sign up and register your tree! When you do: DPW will provide supplies to gather the fruits and will distribute the collected food to local food banks, shelters, soup kitchens, and hot-meal delivery programs.


What type of commitment must I make?
You must register your fruit trees and help out your community by providing your neighborhood with healthy and nutritious food.


How do I apply?
Download, fill out and return the application. Then send the information in to DPW.


What supplies and support will the city provide if I register my trees?
DPW will provide you with buckets, and other tools. DPW will also help gather and pick the fruit, wash the fruit, and package the food in a nice basket or bags for distribution to the food banks, shelters, soup kitchens, and hot-meal delivery programs.


Download the application. And for more information, contact the Urban Gleaning Program to register your tree:


Call: 311
Email: Nancy Wong (nancy.buf.wong@sfdpw.org)
Mail: Nancy Wong, Program Coordinator
Department of Public Works
2323 Cesar Chavez Street
San Francisco, CA 94124-1091

(h/t Portola residents Bob & Mindy Linetzky/Henderson)