Portland Fruit Tree Project Breaks World Record with 500-Foot Charcuterie Board 🏆
A record-breaking board of bounty: How Portland Fruit Tree Project made history and helps the hungry.
Imagine a table stretching half a football field, covered with an array of mouthwatering meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, crackers, and more. 😋
That is what the Portland Fruit Tree Project created on October 23, 2023, to raise awareness and funds for their mission of harvesting and sharing fresh fruit with people in need. Congratulations! The event was a huge success, attracting hundreds of guests and volunteers, and setting a new World Record for the largest charcuterie board ever made with 500 feet of deliciousness. 🙌
Click here to see the video! 🎥
Hunger and Food Insecurity 😢
Unfortunately, there are many people in our communities who are hungry and food insecure. Food insecurity means not having enough food or not knowing where your next meal will come from.
One in seven Oregonians faces food insecurity. Of the approximately 552,900 Oregonians who are food insecure, over 35% are children. According to a report from Bread for the World, food insecurity in Oregon averages 10.3% slightly lower than the national average of 10.4%.1 However, food insecurity disproportionately impacts communities of color, immigrants, families with children, people with disabilities, and people in rural areas.2
Hunger is not only a local issue but also a global one. The United Nations estimates that nearly 690 million people are undernourished worldwide.
Gleaning Organizations 🍎
This is why gleaning organizations like the Portland Fruit Tree Project are working hard to reduce food waste and increase food access for low-income households. Gleaning means collecting leftover crops from backyard trees, farmers’ fields, and orchards and distributing the food to families in need.
The Portland Food Tree Project is a nonprofit that mobilizes community members to harvest and share thousands of pounds of fruit from backyard trees and urban orchards and donate it to food pantries, shelters, and other agencies.
The Charcuterie Board Event 🧀
The charcuterie board event was held Saturday, October 23rd, and was sponsored by several local businesses and organizations, including Market of Choice, Ecotrust, OSU Food Innovation Center, 2Towns Cider, Tillamook Creamery, Carlton Farms, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Laurel Foods, Union Wine Company, Cultured Kindness, Bandit Wines and others. The ingredients for the board were donated or purchased from these sponsors and partners, as well as from Portland Fruit Tree Project’s own fruit harvests.
The preparation of the board took several hours and involved dozens of volunteers who sliced, arranged, and decorated the board with care and creativity. The board featured a variety of meats (such as salami, prosciutto, ham, turkey), cheeses (such as cheddar, brie, blue), fruits (such as apples, pears, grapes), nuts (such as almonds, walnuts), crackers (such as wheat thins), bread (such as baguettes), spreads (such as honey mustard), pickles (such as cornichons), olives (such as kalamata), and more. The board also had some vegan and gluten-free options to accommodate different dietary preferences. 🌱
The presentation of the board was spectacular. The board was set up on a long table that wrapped around the perimeter of the building. The board was divided into sections by color themes (such as reds, and greens) or flavor profiles (such as sweet or savory). The board was adorned with fresh flowers, herbs, and signs that labeled the ingredients and their sources. 🏆
The attendance at the event was impressive. More than 500 people bought tickets to attend the event, enjoy the charcuterie board, and support the cause. The event received extensive media coverage by local newspapers and TV stations. 📰
Your Call to Action 🙏
The charcuterie board event was a remarkable achievement for the Portland Fruit Tree Project and its supporters. It not only set a new world record but also raised funds for community programs and services, showcasing the generosity and diversity of Oregon’s food community and the importance of fighting hunger and food waste together.💚
If you are inspired by this event and want to get involved, there are many ways you can help by joining or supporting gleaning organizations that harvest and share fresh fruit with people in need. Check out the Association of Gleaning Organizations for additional resources and information. 🍎
Together, we can make a difference in ending hunger and creating a more just and fruitful world. Thank you for reading and supporting this important cause. 🙏
https://www.bread.org/article/oregon-a-hunger-and-poverty-snapshot/
https://oregonhunger.org/hunger-in-oregon/