Having a fruit tree on your property can be too much of a good thing.

“A lot of people have trees that produce more than they can eat, and end up composting it, or it falls and rots,” said Jennifer Blecha, local foods program manager for the Minnesota Project. “Some people even cut down their trees because they can’t deal with all the fruit.”

Now there’s a more productive option: Register your tree with the Minnesota Project’s new Fruits of the City program. The program will match “donated” trees with groups of trained volunteers who will pick the fruit and deliver it to local food shelves.

Food shelves are typically stocked with canned and packaged goods, Blecha said, and are eager to offer fresh fruit to their patrons. Fruit-gleaning is just part of the program, which also includes setting up community orchards and offering workshops on fruit-tree care and pruning.

Fruits of the City is seeking apple, plum or pear trees, preferably in Minneapolis or St. Paul, and preferably pesticide-free, Blecha said. (Berry bushes are not being registered in this program.) To register a tree or to volunteer as a harvester, call 651-789-3320 or e-mail fruits@mnproject.org. For more information, visit www.mnproject.org/food-FruitGleaning.html.