PCEF and the Portland Fruit Tree Project: A fruitful partnership that grows careers, trees, and access to healthy, fresh food

A chance encounter in the learning garden at Portland Community College (PCC) Rock Creek changed everything for Joseph Nontanovan. He was at a crossroads in his life, searching for meaningful work after the pandemic upended his career as a catering chef.

Nontanovan had recently enrolled in PCC's landscape tech program and started a new job maintaining the learning garden. He started up a conversation with a tree care manager from the Portland Fruit Tree Project while weeding one day. The manager told him about the organization's workforce development training program.

Cultivating a meaningful career and entrepreneurs

Nontanovan enrolled, gaining deep knowledge in arboriculture and hands-on experience in fruit tree care, including pruning and sustainable harvesting. He joined the Portland Fruit Tree Project team after graduation. Nontanovan now shares his expertise with homeowners, teaches tree care practices and contributes to the organization's mission of improving access to fresh fruit and a greener city.

"Joseph has a talent for bringing people together around a common goal," said Heather Keisler Fornes, executive director of the Portland Fruit Tree Project. "His passion for ensuring that fresh fruit reaches every neighborhood in Portland shines through in everything he does."

Nontanovan's experience at the Portland Fruit Tree Project prepared him to start his own ornamental and fruit tree pruning business. His new career has allowed him to provide for his family, hone his specialized skills, and pursue his passions for nature and art.

"My career pivot has allowed me to meet my neighbors, teach them about arboriculture and how to care for the natural beauty around them," Nontanovan said. "Being able to start my own business is something I had never dreamt of and the training I received at Portland Fruit Tree Project allowed that to become a reality."

A fruitful partnership

The Portland Fruit Tree Project launched its training program with support from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). Created by Portland voters in 2018, PCEF invests in projects to reduce carbon emissions, create economic opportunity, and help make Portland more resilient in a changing climate.

PCEF's support goes beyond workforce training. It has helped the Portland Fruit Tree Project:

• Create a fruit tree index. The indexmaps tree locations and data, improves tree care, boosts harvest efficiency and creates green jobs and training opportunities for people of color.

• Upgrade and decarbonize its fleet. PCEF funding is replacing the nonprofit's aging vehicles with electric models, reducing emissions and improving reliability.

• Growlocal food and restore urban soil. PCEF's general operating support pilot is funding Portland Fruit Tree Project's work to improve access to local food using practices that build soil health, sequester carbon, and contribute to a healthier urban environment.

"Our partnership brings real change to neighborhoods that need it most," said Mika Barrett, PCEF's Regenerative Agriculture and Green Infrastructure project manager. "By investing in the Portland Fruit Tree Project, we're helping to build a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive community while cutting down on food waste and providing additional food to the community. A true win-win."

Visit https://www.portlandfruit.orgto learn more about the Portland Fruit Tree Project's work to enhance Portland's urban landscape, add trees, connect neighbors, and bring joy and healthy fresh fruit to more Portlanders.