Episode #275
#275: Heather Keisler Fornes of Portland Fruit Tree Project
Welcome to the Meaningful Marketplace, the podcast that goes behind the scenes to tell the stories of female food entrepreneurs. Join hosts Sarah Masoni, the OSU Food Innovation Center director, famously dubbed the "woman with the million-dollar palate" by the New York Times, and Sarah Marshall, the farm-to-table visionary behind Marshall’s Haute Sauce. Each week, this powerhouse duo sits down with startup founders to explore the grit, innovation, and passion required to turn a kitchen-table dream into reality. Join them as they talk with Heather Keisler Fornes of Portland Fruit Tree Project. In this episode of The Meaningful Marketplace , we sit down with Heather Keisler Fornes, Executive Director of the Portland Fruit Tree Project , to explore how urban foraging, community harvesting, and local agriculture can transform food equity. Heather shares the inspiration behind harvesting untended urban fruit trees, reducing local food waste, and building resilient neighborhood food networks across Portland. Portland Fruit Tree Project Portland Fruit Tree Project Instagram Key Highlights Harvester Equity & Urban Bounty: How the Portland Fruit Tree Project connects fruit tree owners with community harvesters to combat local food insecurity. Beyond the Trees: Community orchards, youth workforce internships, and urban canopy preservation efforts. Sustainable Food Systems: Practical advice for food producers and community members looking to turn local surpluses into impactful resources. Episode Sponsor This episode is brought to you by the Food Innovation Center at Oregon State University , supporting agricultural innovation, product development, and food entrepreneurs across the Pacific Northwest. Thank you for listening to The Meaningful Marketplace Podcast with your hosts, Sarah Masoni of Oregon State University's Food Innovation Center and Sarah Marshall , owner of Marshall's Haute Sauce. Connect with us on Instagram @meaningfulmarketplacepodcast . Call our hotline with questions for Sarah and Sarah at 503-395-8858. If you want to support our show, write us a review, share episodes with friends, or subscribe to our Patreon . Producer: Sarah Marshall of The Joy of Creation Production House Audio engineer, mixer, and podcast editor: Haley Bowers
