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Citrus Gleaning

“Citrus Gleaning” is a longstanding seasonal program for United Food Bank, which offers qualified homeowners in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, and Queen Creek a venue to donate their excess ripe fruit. Our citrus season will run January 7th – March 15th.

Homeowners seeking to donate their citrus should consider these important points:

    • The easiest and most efficient way to donate your citrus is to collect it and deliver it to our main warehouse.
    • United Food Bank can provide bins for you to collect your citrus. Bins can be picked up at our warehouse but must be scheduled ahead of time.  Empty bins are collapsible and fit in most large vehicles.
    • Homeowners who are over 65  or are physically unable to glean their own trees due to health or disability may qualify to have  United Food Bank supply volunteers to assist with gleaning.  Due to limited resources, we can not guarantee that we will be able to assist every homeowner who qualifies to have their citrus gleaned. Please understand that we make every effort during the season to assist as many as we can. *

Donating Options:

    1. I will pick my citrus but need bins.
    2.  Due to age, health or another disability, I am physically unable to pick my own citrus  and wish to request gleaning assistance.*

*United Food Bank’s active participation in Arizona’s 2013 Gleaning season is officially over. We will of course be happy to accept donated citrus until the end of March at our main warehouse Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Map and Directions to Main Warehouse
245 South Nina Drive
Mesa, AZ 85210

 

Important freeze information:

  • The citrus can still be harvested.  Probably the sooner the better. Citrus on the outer branches is more likely to freeze than the citrus on the inside area of the tree, so only part of the fruit of the tree will likely be impacted.  The challenge to the quality of the fruit will likely come if there is repeated freezing temps through Tuesday or Wednesday, as is predicted by the weather service.
  • We can still accept the citrus donations, but there may be some fruit on the trees that has been frost damaged.  When citrus is frost damaged it is drier inside, sometimes totally dry, but it isn’t moldy or anything like that.