Lead Fruit Picks
Become a Pick Leader!
When a neighbour has more fruit than they can handle, Pick Leaders step in to coordinate the rescue. As the “roots” of the fruit picking program, they facilitate harvests across Toronto’s backyards from June to October, ensuring no fruit goes to waste and building community.
Being a Pick Leader also comes with “fruitful” benefits!
- Receive training, including mentorship by seasoned Pick Leaders
- Schedule as many picks as you want, choosing the times and locations that fit your summer schedule
- Host one private fruit pick per season just for your family and friends
- Join a terrific community of like-minded Pick Leaders
- Receive the eternal gratitude of your neighbours (though we can’t promise the raccoons and squirrels will feel the same)
Pick Leader onboarding will resume in May 2026. Sign up to be the first to hear when orientations start up again!
Teagan N., Pick Leader since 2023 says: “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.”
Pick Leader Training Steps
Our onboarding is set up to be flexible and supportive, ensuring you’ll have the skills you need to set up and lead your own picks.
Step 1: Orientation
- Attend an online orientation or review our orientation material at your own pace
- Submit a quick orientation review quiz & registration form
- You’ll be paired with a Pick Leader Mentor to welcome you on board and discuss next steps
Step 2: Practice Picks
- Your first pick will be to observe a Pick Leader in action on a shadow pick
- Your next pick will be a practice pick, where you’ll arrive early and co-lead a portion of the event with another Pick Leader
- Your final practice pick is the graduation pick, where you’ll take the reins and lead a pick from start to finish with a Pick Leader for support
Step 3: Begin Leading Picks
- You’ll check-in with your mentor to celebrate your graduation
- You’ll be added to our Pick Leader Discord chats and Google Group for community building, troubleshooting, and information updates
- You can begin scheduling fruit picks on your own schedule
Congratulations! Go forth, and happy picking!
Alison Mann, Pick Leader since 2023: “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.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum or maximum amount of picks I should lead in a season?
There is no minimum or maximum! Most Pick Leaders organize 2-5 picks per season (planning and running one pick can take between 3-5 hours total). The record for picks led in one season by one PL is a whopping 93!
Do you still have cargo bikes for Pick Leaders to use?
Our Babboe cargo bike fleet was unfortunately recalled by the manufacturer in 2024, and 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 a few 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.
Ilana Wilner, Pick Leader since 2018 says that “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 a lot of fun getting everyone talking and engaging while we’re out on the picks.”
Have questions about becoming a Pick Leader?
We’d love to help! Get in touch with us at picks[at]notfarfromthetree.org.