The award-winning international nonprofit Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) has teamed up with local nonprofit Midtown Partners, with generous support from Arbor Day Foundation and Amazon, to launch an innovative program to plant and distribute more than 500 trees in the underserved neighborhood of Midtown to serve families for generations. The four organizations will be installing five fruit tree orchards at schools, community gardens, and a public park from February 26–March 2 according to the schedule below. Hundreds of additional trees will be distributed directly to households, along with training and planting instructions.
- Wednesday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m.: Midtown Public Charter Primary, 301Adelle St, Jackson, MS
- Thursday, February 27 at 9:30 a.m.: Little Samaritan Montessori Center, 162 Millsaps Ave, Jackson, MS
- Friday, February 28 at 12:30 p.m.: The Urban Farm & The Preserve Garden, 2015 Wightman & 212 Wesley Ave, Jackson, MS
- Saturday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m.: Midtown Public Charter Primary, 301 Adelle St, Jackson, MS (additional planting workshop & distribution)
- Sunday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m.: Recreational Art Garden, 1326 N. Mill St, Jackson, MS
Tree types will include apples, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, figs, elderberries, pecans and cherries, amongst other delicious varieties. Projects will involve installing drip irrigation and tree protection to maximize survival. Arboricultural training and aftercare workshops will also be provided, empowering orchard caretakers to ensure their orchards thrive for generations to follow. The initiative is part of FTPF’s Fruitful Fifty program, which aims to create fruitful communities in every state, and is made possible in Mississippi through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Amazon.
“These orchards will provide communities in Mississippi with sustainable harvest, increasing access to healthy nutrition and cleaning the surrounding air, soil, and water—creating a model that any household can achieve in their own yards after receiving their trees to take home,” said Cem Akin, FTPF’s Tree-EO. “The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is honored to collaborate with Midtown Partners, the Arbor Day Foundation, and Amazon to collectively provide a source of sustainable, organic, perennial nutrition for local families. Through the planting of more than 500 fruit trees, the neighborhood will be healthier and greener for generations to follow.”
“At Midtown Partners, we are committed to fostering food security, environmental sustainability, and community resilience. Through our Farm to Community Initiative, we are creating a neighborhood-driven food system that empowers residents with fresh, locally grown produce. This partnership with FTPF, the Arbor Day Foundation, and Amazon is a transformative step in that mission – ensuring that families not only receive fruit trees but also the knowledge and resources to sustain them for generations. By planting these orchards and distributing trees directly to households, we are growing a healthier, greener, and more self-sufficient Midtown,” said Jina Daniels, Creative Economy Coordinator for Midtown Partners.
“At Amazon, we are committed to supporting initiatives that create sustainable, healthy communities for generations to come,” said Sarah Georgiades, head of AWS InCommunities, Americas. “We are thrilled to collaborate with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, Midtown Partners, and the Arbor Day Foundation on this innovative orchard planting project. By empowering local organizations to grow and maintain these fruitful spaces, we’re not only providing access to fresh, nutritious food but also cultivating a greener, more resilient future for Jackson’s Midtown neighborhood.”
“The Arbor Day Foundation is dedicated to helping our local planting partners unlock the transformative power of trees and orchards in their community,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees clean our air, cool our cities and improve the lives of the people around them. We’re happy to partner with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation to maximize the impact of urban orchards and inspire more people to benefit and engage with nature in a meaningful way.”