Empowering clientele to propagate and produce their own fruit trees

With supply chain issues causing shortages in the nursery and food industries, and inflation and transportation costs rising dramatically, driving many products' prices higher including plant material and fresh produce; purchasing trees from nurseries may be an economic hardship for many limited resource clientele. Food deserts and increasing food prices also are an impediment to purchasing fresh produce for many individuals. Learning how to start your own plants from seed and graft trees yourself enables consumers to produce their own plants at a lower cost than purchasing them from nurseries, and produce nutritious fruits and vegetables for their families at home. Three workshops and demonstrations were held, one on starting pawpaws from seed, and two on grafting pawpaw trees. Eighty participants learned every step of propagating pawpaws, from cleaning, storing, and germinating pawpaw seeds; to a class on how to collect and save scion wood for grafting and graft your own trees. Participants received a grafting tool, knife, and other supplies to be able to propagate their own trees in the future, and the methods they learned are applicable to apple, peach, and other fruit trees as well. After these trainings, participants are equipped with the knowledge and tools to save their own seeds, grow trees from seed, and propagate their own fruit trees via grafting. Pawpaw and other fruit trees are sold for upwards of $50 per tree for named cultivars, so starting your own trees via seed and grafting are a way of removing economic barriers to growing fruit at home. Participants stated that they were more likely to graft their own trees and would continue to do so in the future. These trees will start fruiting in 2-3 years, producing 40-50 lbs of fruit on mature trees for 20-30 years, with a retail value of $3-5 per pound, providing a long lasting source of fresh fruit for these individuals and families.