Our Story
But first, hello! My name is Valerie.
While growing up in Walnut, California, I always observed the guava tree at my parents' home yielding an abundance of fruit every season. Not just a handful of fruits, but hundreds of guavas would grow each year. Despite being a family of five, we couldn't consume all the fruit, and it would either fall on the ground, composting itself, or get eaten by rodents.
After spending six years in Texas, where fruit was scarce in Austin, I realized how abundant fruit was back in California and how much of it went unused. The waste was too significant to ignore, and I knew something had to be done.
FruitFull Inc.
In December 2021, I formed a team of three comprising myself, Alejandro, and Figaro, our loyal feline mascot. We started canvassing the community, beginning with my parent's neighborhood in Timberline, and went door to door to gauge interest in a fruit picking service that we would offer for free. The plan was to donate the harvested fruit to food banks or homeless shelters, and in return, the donors would receive a tax write-off or a donation receipt. This meant they wouldn't have to lift a finger or put themselves at risk of injury while picking the fruit themselves or leaving their homes. The response we received was overwhelmingly positive, and this was the birth of 'FruitFull.' This act of service isn't just limited to our community, but is a must for every tree owner everywhere.
Since Our Launch
Fruitfull is making a powerful impact in the fight against food waste and food insecurity. By partnering with multiple national hunger relief agencies and nationally recognized colleges and universities, we’ve bolstered and broadened our mission to supply basic needs pantries with fresh, nutritious produce.
To put it into perspective, in just six months, we’ve upcycled over 100,000 pounds of surplus food, rescuing it from waste and redirecting it to students and underserved communities.
Our innovative model ensures fresh, nutritious produce reaches students and underserved communities, empowering them to thrive. Additionally, we invest in our volunteers by qualifying them for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, offering them a pathway to make an impact while achieving their own goals.
At the heart of it all, we believe in building a sustainable future through kindness, collaboration, and action. Together, we’re creating a FruitFull world—one piece of produce at a time.
Why We Serve
Since our inception, we've attracted a following of individuals who share our belief in nurturing and caring for fruit trees, fostering a deeper appreciation and gratitude for the gifts bestowed upon us by nature.
This practice of sharing promotes kindness, generosity, and hospitality, while also addressing the issue of food insecurity and hunger, which is a critical problem in many communities. Working towards a common goal can bring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences together, creating a sense of unity and solidarity.
Our aim is to keep building a community that shares and donates fruit, where people can have a shared sense of social responsibility, purpose, and contribute to a more equitable, compassionate, and FruitFull society.
Want to Get Involved?
If your interested in joining the FruitFull Community,
Here's how you can help:
