Trees That Feed Foundation

Trees That Feed Foundation (TTFF) plants and distributes food-bearing trees, with breadfruit as its flagship, to fight hunger, create jobs, and protect the environment. Founded in 2008 by Mary and Mike McLaughlin, TTFF has planted more than 450,000 trees in 22 countries, providing hundreds of millions of nutritious, gluten-free, low-cost meals.

Our work begins with tree donations to families, schools, and smallholder farmers. One mature breadfruit tree can produce fruit for over 80 years, yielding hundreds of meals annually. But TTFF’s approach goes beyond planting: we build entire value chains around tropical fruit trees. We train entrepreneurs, supply equipment such as solar dehydrators and grinders, and support bakeries and factories that process fruit into flour, snacks, and other products. These businesses create income, empower women, strengthen local economies, and reduce dependence on imported foods.

TTFF also partners with schools, governments, universities, and international organizations. Our school feeding programs provide children with nutritious meals made from locally grown crops, while also teaching them about sustainability and agriculture. We publish children’s books, teacher guides, and agroforestry manuals to build awareness for future generations.

Environmentally, food-bearing trees sequester carbon, restore degraded land, and provide a climate-resilient source of food. A single breadfruit tree sequesters about 1.3 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. By scaling this effort, TTFF makes a significant contribution to climate change mitigation while addressing food insecurity.

From Haiti to Jamaica, Uganda to The Bahamas, Guatemala to Puerto Rico, TTFF’s model of planting trees, supporting farmers, and fostering entrepreneurship is transforming communities. Our guiding principle is simple yet powerful: plant trees that feed people, create jobs, and benefit the planet.