An appeal to the industry

Here is an important letter from Bruce McEvoy of Seald Sweet LLC. The search for an effective industry response to the disaster in Peru is brought before us, and Bruce is seeking for input on how we can make a difference. Bruce stressed in a phone interview that he is open to ideas about what can work to extend coordinated aid in this situation and others.

From Bruce:


AN APPEAL TO THE INDUSTRY

What is the extent of our social responsibility as an industry?

Last weekend I was dining with friends and someone asked where the delicious asparagus came from. I proudly stated my knowledge, Peru, and there was an immediate silence in the room.

Instant reflections of what we had seen over the past few days could not be ignored. Images of crushed adobe cottages in the region of Ica; a church collapsing on its congregation during prayer in Pisco; a complete breakdown of the infrastructure with parts of the Pan American highway no longer in place. The devastating power of an earthquake brought terror to farming villages 160 miles south of Lima; farm communities that grow and ship asparagus, sweet onions and now citrus to the United States.

While humanitarian aid is flowing in from around the world, when the headlines fade in a few weeks those who will suffer the most are the farm workers and their families who have lost their homes and are now displaced. Similar to the conditions created after the 2004 Florida hurricanes these critical workers within the global produce industry deserve not only our compassion but also our financial support.

Seald Sweet launched a fundraising effort following the hurricanes in 2004 and soon recognized the generosity within our industry, but we also recognized that one company does not have the capabilities to mobilize the industry’s resources for relief efforts. Is this perhaps a role for United Fresh and the PMA where they can provide the industry with the disaster facts, publish the message and provide a registered foundation for the collection, oversight and distribution of relief funds?

It may be inappropriate for me to speculate on the charter of those associations, particularly their foundations, but I’m trying to stimulate your thinking; I’m searching for ideas! Many of our retail partners, produce companies and suppliers to the industry have foundations that can make contributions to disaster relief efforts. As we learned from our Florida experience many retailers were willing to join with the suppliers to conduct fundraising promotion features that also involved the consumer. The desire to help others in distress is part of our culture we just need to find a mechanism to make it happen.

I’m open to your suggestions and no idea is off the radar screen. I don’t expect that a solution will be simple but it deserves our attention. In Peru we’ve witnessed another natural disaster and this time it is not only a neighbor but a neighbor who is part of our industry. We need to try our best to support them as produce colleagues!

Again, what is the extent of our social responsibility?

Thank you,

E. Bruce McEvoy,

Seald Sweet LLC
772-569-2244

August 21, 2007