A call to action

I recently asked Rick Bella of America's Second Harvest what was the group's biggest obstacle in getting fresh produce to distribute to food banks, and how that can be overcome.
Here are some thoughts of Rick's:

EDUCATION... by far. We have a toll-free number that any warehouse, distribution center, trucker, broker, etc. can call so we can quickly act to any donation. Naturally, we don't take bad produce, but as long as the product still offers value, most of our members can take the donation.

Transportation is another obstacle... so have a trucking firm work with us would be helpful... in other words, we can pay to transport; but once a product is off-loaded and sitting on a dock, it is difficult to move out of a DC, etc. By having those dock inspectors have the knowledge that they can call; or instruct the "seller" to call us when the rejection of the load is made is key.

800-771-2303 x6507

Call goes to me directly or my voice mail. We have full-time staff that is here to assist with moving the produce to a member location. We (Second Harvest) pays the trucker, then invoice the receiving member for their share of the costs. We assist members with packaging AND transportation costs.

Fiscal year to date data: (July 1, 2006 to 2/2/07)
63,000,000 pounds moved through the Chicago national office by national produce donors/suppliers
Second Harvest has assisted members by paying $431,549 in transportation costs, or 28% of the total spent.
Members (food banks) paid $1,126,460 to move produce
Second Harvest also paid $2,102,840 in packaging fees (really low priced F.O.B. costs) to assist members with produce costs
Members also paid $2,489,638 in packaging fees or 54% of the total.
This is data from 31-weeks worth of operation.

Total program costs f.y.t.d.= $6.1M
Projected spending for the remainder of this fiscal year (ends June 30th) another $2.5M

This is no longer a small program!!! Your thoughts are welcome.
Thanks, Rick

From a previous email, Rick said:

We current ship 2.1M pounds of fresh produce EACH WEEK to our network members. Wow, it has really grown. This is all new found business for the produce industry. We currently work with the following companies who make up about 85% of our total produce distribution each week. Just sharing:
Western Veg-Produce; Bakersfield, CA
Columbia Fresh Produce; Yakima, WA (apples, pears)
P and K Services, Orlando, FL (assorted Vegetables)
Mountain King Potatoes, Houston, TX


TK: Rick's passion for this good work is evident, and all should be aware of the opportunity to get involved, just as the above companies have done. Here is a link to David Mitchell's Packer 25 feature about Rick that published in March 2006.