The Problem Hidden Harvest Helps Solve
In Ottawa, a lot of local food goes to waste while many households struggle to access enough healthy food. Ottawa Public Health estimates that 1 in 7 households experience food insecurity, and 1 in 10 face moderate to severe food insecurity (Ottawa Public Health, 2020).
At the same time, there are more than 17,000 fruit and nut trees on City property and much of this fruit goes unpicked.
Harvesting the food already growing around us helps get fresh, nutritious food to people who need it most – while reducing food waste.
Our Purpose
Hidden Harvest brings community members together to pick and share fruit.
By harvesting fruit that would otherwise go to waste, we:
- Reduce food waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions
- Support the local food system
- Strengthen Ottawa’s climate resilience
- Build stronger community connections
What We Do
Hidden Harvest connects people to the edible fruit and nut trees in their neighbourhoods.
Founded in 2012, Hidden Harvest became a program of EnviroCentre in 2024. We support volunteer Neighbourhood Leaders to organize fruit and nut harvests on public and private property.
- Tree owners register their trees for harvesting. We currently have more than 700 trees registered for harvesting on private property.
- Volunteers sign up to join harvest events through our website.
- Once the fruit or nuts are gathered, the food is divided into three ways:
Donated to the nearest food agency
Shared amongst the volunteer harvesters
Shared with the treeowner if they would like a portion
By picking and sharing local fruit, Hidden Harvest volunteers help make Ottawa a more food-tree-friendly city.
What is Gleaning
Gleaning is the process of collecting food that would otherwise go to waste. Gleaned food may come from farms, gardens, farmers markets, grocery stores or restaurants. Some gleaning groups search for food from farms or grocery stores, however, Hidden Harvest currently gleans the edible fruit trees, nut trees, and vines around the City of Ottawa – all harvests that have a barrier to pickings, such as requiring equipment, or knowledge as to how to pick it safely.
The practice of gleaning simultaneously improves food security and reduces food waste. As Ottawa grows many fruits and nuts that are edible, healthy, and delicious, we believe that embracing the fruitful trees in Ottawa is an important part of taking good care of our city. If you would like to learn more about gleaning and the different organizations that are located within Canada, check out this list of Canadian Fruit Tree Harvesting Organizations!
List of Canadian Fruit Tree Harvesting Organizations
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Fraser Valley Gleaners – Abbotsford
- Lifecycles Fruit Tree Project – Victoria
- North Shore Fruit Tree Project – Vancouver
- Okanagan Fruit Tree Project – Kelowna
- Vancouver Fruit Tree Project
ONTARIO
QUEBEC, EAST COAST
- Les Fruits Défendus – Montreal, QC
- Les Fruits Partagés – Rimouski, QC
- FOUND Forgotten Food – Halifax, NS