Shining light on helping others

From Rick Bella, guest blogger:
I recently returned from the United Fresh (United) & Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Trade show held in Las Vegas. Each year, these two organizations ask exhibitors to donate display food to the local America’s Second Harvest food bank. This year was no different. After the show closing on Wednesday, over 100,000 pounds of food including 60,000 pounds of fresh produce was collected by food bank volunteers. As some readers can attest to, the show closing is certainly organized chaos as workers remove carpet from the show floor, fork lift drivers deliver display shipping containers and exhibitors begin to break down their booths. After all, they have been there day after day and it is time to exit and get back to the dozens of emails that we all seem to receive these days.

The local member located in Las Vegas is called Three Square Food Bank and they were able to seek help from over 75 volunteers who all removed display products that were tagged by exhibitors for “donation”. It is certainly moving to see how vendors protect their food so they can offer good quality to the food bank. One exhibitor on the FMI side of the show used what looked like police crime scene tape to “tape off and protect” their entire booth area and placed signage around the booth informing guests that All Product is For Donation “Don’t Take” so that show attendees, other exhibitors and even show workers didn’t help themselves to some samples.

It’s that kind of understanding that was so impressive at this particular show, my personal 12th show that I’ve attended over the years. United and FMI did an excellent job of notifying the exhibitors as to the need for donations as well as provided organized communication tools for vendors to use to let the food bank know that their food was indeed for donation. One exhibitor named Mike Beausang was with Sunkist/Jelly Belly Candy Company and I caught him loading items from the Sunkist display directly into the food bank totes. I asked him what he was doing and his response was simple but impactful, “there are many folks out there who can use these donations”. Naturally, I snapped his photo.

As for the volunteers, how can we thank enough the people who serve to assist the food banks across the country without compensation? They are caring individuals who want to help, perhaps make a difference; one of the most sought after desires of most in the workforce these days. Imagine that, money doesn’t even top the list. Some will never personally see the end recipient of food that they collect. They only know that agencies across the country (about 60,000 of them) need food to assist American’s with hunger issues. These volunteers worked tirelessly collected 112,000 pounds of food to assist their neighbors in Las Vegas.
As we all “think greener”, it is certainly a wonderful feeling knowing that display food at trade shows is going to good use. Thank you United, FMI and the Produce Marketing Association for continued support of helping the hungry. It is great that our need to market goods to buyers across the U.S. is also used to support less fortunate American’s right here at home. Thank you to all that were involved in making this each and every year. It’s the right thing to do.

~Rick Bella, America’s Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network.

Farm Bill can assist in many ways...

"This year Congress will reauthorize major farm and food legislation in the "Farm Bill." The Farm Bill is multi-year authorizing legislation that will change, and hopefully improve, a number of policies that are of interest to the wholesale produce industry and to food banks. One important area for collaboration between the produce industry, farmers, and food banks is in support of more purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables for needy Americans.

The Administration supports a healthier diet for recipients of the nutrition programs set to be authorized in the Farm Bill and has proposed to increase the amount of fresh produce that is provided to Federal nutrition assistance programs like school lunch and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

The Farm Bill proposal would increase fresh produce available to schools and food banks by USDA purchases of fresh produce up to $2.75 billion over 10 years. America's Second Harvest strongly supports this proposal. Our food banks want to provide the most nutritious and wholesome food to the growing number of needy people that our food banks serve each year. According to the most recent independent study of food banks, more than 25 million low-income people, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors received food assistance from our food banks.

Working together with the produce industry, packers, and farmers, we can ensure that when needy people come to our food banks for help, they will be able to leave with safe, healthy fresh fruit and vegetables. To find out how you can help please visit the America's Second Harvest website at: http://www.secondharvest.org/ and visit the Hunger Action Center to send electronic messages of support to your members of Congress."

RB: The ripple affect of this bill is tremendous. Not only is it the right thing to do, it exposes many young future consumers to the wonderful world of fresh produce. This certainly can have long lasting benefits for both, the consumer and provider; too many to list here. Please give it some thought; and most importantly, get involved.