Mike’s U-Pick loves to grow fruit for local u-pick enthusiasts. But sometimes there aren’t enough pickers in a season to get all the fruit. That happened with their cherries in the summer of 2019, and Mike’s didn’t want the fruit to go to waste.

That’s when The Urban Farmers came to the rescue. Founded in 2008, this local non-profit, grass-roots, all-volunteer organization came through with a huge crew of pickers in early July and harvested 4,100 pounds of cherries. They help people find a way to share their excess backyard fruit with those in need; whether it’s one tree, or a whole orchard.

So what happened to the 4,100 pounds of cherries? The lot was distributed between Hopehouse Brentwood Food & Clothing, White Pony Express, and St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County.

We enjoyed knowing our fruit went to a good cause; to feed the hungry. We didn’t have to worry about the fruit rotting on the ground, and all the problems associated with that. It was a Win-Win situation all around.

Big thanks go to the The Urban Farmers! Visit their website if you’d like to register a tree or two that you’d like to donate the fruit because you just can’t eat it all, or you’d like to volunteer to help with harvesting. They’re always looking for volunteers!