Benefits of Edible Trees Click Here for a PDF Benefits of Edible Trees All trees provide benefits to people and the environment. Edible trees add even more value. |
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Trees enhance aesthetics. All trees beautify and improve natural and built environments. Blossoms add special beauty. Photo: Peach blossoms
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Trees provide shade and cooling. Tree canopies provide shade, cool the air, reduce damaging sun exposure and reduce cooling costs. Photo: Shady olive grove
Trees Improve wildlife habitat. Trees provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife. Photo: Dove eating fruit
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Trees purify air. Leaves absorb carbon dioxide (a heat-trapping gas), release oxygen and intercept air pollutants. Photo: Ironwood tree
Edible trees improve food security. Edible trees increase sustainable local food, enhance variety and improve nutrition. Photo: Canned peaches
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Trees build soil and reduce erosion. Organic materials falling from trees support soil life, tree canopies cushion rainfall impact, roots hold soil. Photo: Mulch
Edible trees build community. People gather to care for, harvest, celebrate and learn about trees from one another. Photo: Citrus harvest
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Trees moderate floods and purify stormwater. Tree roots clean stormwater and improve infiltration, reducing street flooding. Photo: Street curb cut basin
Edible trees save resources. Local foods reduce fuels used to transport food long distances. Native edible trees can grow on rainfall alone. Photos: Local pear harvest
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Trees screen negative conditions. All trees screen wind, views, dust and noise. Photo: Wind break filters strong winds
Trees provide economic benefits. Trees produce structural wood, fuel, food, medicinal products and fiber and increase property values. Edible trees add community food sources and provide commercial food crops. Photo: Locally produced olive oil
CAUTION: Never eat anything that is not properly identified. It is your responsibility to ensure that all fruits, nuts, seeds, pods and other edible products of trees and shrubs are correctly identified and safe to eat before eating them or serving them to others.
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LEAF is under the fiduciary stewardship of the Arizona Community Tree Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
This website and other LEAF Network products shown here was prepared under the Diverse Urban Forest grant, WCG 14-501, administered by the Arizona Community Tree Council. Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program administered through Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management – Urban and Community Forestry Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability (Not all prohibited basis applies to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.