Lead Fruit Picks
Become a Pick Leader!
Want to choose exactly when and where the magic of urban fruit picking happens?
When a neighbor has more fruit than they can handle, you’ll step in to coordinate the rescue. As the “roots” of the fruit picking program, you’ll facilitate harvests across Toronto’s backyards from June to October, ensuring no fruit goes to waste.
As a Pick Leader, you aren’t just harvesting; you’re community-building. You’ll receive training to bring the equipment, teach volunteers the ropes, and manage the three-way split:
- 1/3 for the Tree Registrant
- 1/3 for you and your volunteer team
- 1/3 for local community agencies addressing food insecurity
Being a Pick Leader also comes with “fruitful” benefits!
- Schedule as many picks as you want, choosing the times and locations that fit your summer schedule
- Join a terrific community of like-minded Pick Leaders, including a Discord server specifically for asking one another questions and sharing recipes
- Host one private fruit pick per season just for your family and friends
- Receive the eternal gratitude of your neighbours (though we can’t promise the raccoons and squirrels will feel the same)
The Pick Leader Experience
“I love being able to see different parts of the city in ways that you don’t normally get to experience and helping facilitate that experience for others. It’s really rewarding to have such a great outdoor community-building activity that benefits participants, has a net positive impact for the tree owner, and even goes further into community support by sharing the harvest. Being part of the work to create and maintain a circular economy with otherwise unused resources in the city is a really unique opportunity.” – Alison Mann, Pick Leader since 2023
“Beyond the fun of being part of the pick and delivering fruit to amazing organizations, I really enjoy acting as a mini ambassador for the program. It’s also a lot of fun getting everyone talking and engaging while we’re out on the picks.” – Ilana Wilner, Pick Leader since 2018
“I love being a pick leader! I really enjoy planning the picks and making sure everyone knows what they’re doing during picks. I find it so fun to meet new people and build a community of like-minded people who love picking fruit. I like sharing my knowledge and experience and learning from other people. I also enjoy getting to share the fruit with social agencies that are working to do good in our communities. And I absolutely love climbing a tree and picking beautiful, delicious fruit.” – Teagan N., Pick Leader since 2023
Pick Leader Onboarding
Ready to get started? Pick Leader onboarding is set up to be flexible and supportive, ensuring you have all the skills you need to set up and lead your own harvests.
Step 1: Planting Seeds
Get grounded in the basics of the Pick Leader role!
- Orientation: Attend an online orientation or review our materials at your own pace
- Knowledge Check: Complete a quick quiz to ensure you’re on the same page
- Connect with a Mentor: Get paired with a seasoned Pick Leader for a 1-on-1 welcome call to welcome you on board and discuss next steps
Step 2: Branching Out
Build your confidence through three hands-on picks.
- Shadow Pick: Attend a pick as a volunteer to observe a seasoned Pick Leader in action.
- Practice Pick: Arrive early to a pick and co-lead a portion of the event, from the welcome talk to the final sort and weigh-in.
- Graduation Pick: Take the reins! You’ll facilitate a pick from start to finish with a seasoned Pick Leader for support.
Step 3: Ripe for the Picking!
- Check-in with your mentor to celebrate your graduation!
- Explore our Pick Leader Discord and Google Group for coordination, questions, and community
- Start scheduling picks as the Pick Leader on your own schedule
Congratulations! Go forth, and happy picking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum or maximum amount of picks I should lead in a season?
The PL role is set up to be as flexible as possible, so the answer is…no! One fruit pick can take anywhere from 3-4 hours, depending on scheduling, fruit amount, and donation delivery. Some Pick Leader lead over 40 picks each season, and some lead a handful.
Do you still have cargo bikes for Pick Leaders to use?
Our Babboe cargo bike fleet was unfortunately recalled by the manufacturer in 2024 – we are continuing to fundraise to purchase replacements that will work for our Pick Leader community! Pick Leaders are welcome to use whatever method of transport works for them. NFFTT’s equipment sets come complete with small wagons to support transport, and we current have two Wike Landscape trailers for PLs to use with their personal bikes.
What are the physical requirements of this role?
It is strongly recommended that Pick Leaders are able to perform active field work, including but not limited to lifting/carrying equipment over 40 lbs, climbing ladders (if comfortable), reaching, crouching, and standing for extended periods in various weather conditions.
Many yards we pick from have uneven ground, tight paths between homes, and do not have bathroom access. We encourage leaders to ask for help when available, but also need to make leaders aware that help may not always be available, such as when picking up equipment sets and transporting fruit.
Have questions about becoming a Pick Leader?
We’d love to help! Get in touch with us at picks[at]notfarfromthetree.org.