India is one of the world’s largest producers of fruits and vegetables, yet per capita fruit consumption remains low, particularly among marginalized communities. Despite the recognized role of fruits in human nutrition, millions of people across India still view fruits as a luxury rather than a staple food. This gap is the result of multiple factors: economic constraints, lack of access, limited adoption of modern agricultural practices, and shifting dietary patterns among both the rural and urban poor. Beyond their nutritional importance, fruits are also an economic resource. Cultivation, processing, and marketing of fruits can generate sustainable livelihoods, especially for small-scale farmers and forest-dependent communities. At the same time, fruit-bearing plants contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and the restoration of degraded landscapes. Their deep root systems enhance soil organic carbon, improve soil structure, and stimulate microbial activity, making them key players in carbon sequestration and climate resilience.

India is home to hundreds of indigenous edible fruit species, many of which remain largely untapped. Traditionally, local communities have harvested these wild fruits for food, medicine, and supplementary income. However, changing agricultural practices, deforestation, and the spread of monocultures have marginalised these species, eroding both biodiversity and cultural knowledge. This loss represents a missed opportunity: perennial fruit trees offer resilience against climate fluctuations, strengthen food and economic security, and provide ecological services, yet their potential remains underutilised.

Project FRESH seeks to promote the cultivation and sustainable use of both common and underutilised fruits, build community capacity, synthesise modern and traditional knowledge, and influence policies that integrate fruit trees into nutrition, livelihoods, and ecosystem restoration.