WASHINGTON, DC - International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), with the generosity of Global Produce & Floral Show exhibitors, has donated 226,227 lbs of fresh, quality produce and 30,000 lbs of flowers and plants to the local Orange County and Los Angeles Community.
The annual show, which attracts exhibitors from across the produce and floral supply chain, has established partnerships with food banks in host cities. Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is a member of Feeding America.
“We greatly value the partnerships we have with local organizations that help us to rescue and deliver produce, floral, and compost to benefit the communities that welcome our show each year,” said IFPA Director of Trade Shows, Kyle McMillan, in the recent release. “This allows us to ensure the investments our members and partners make in our show can extend far beyond the expo floor. We’re grateful for our exhibitors for their generosity and for our local colleagues who do such important work supporting the communities who welcome our Show each year.”
The produce, floral, and compost donations cannot be collected and delivered without a core group of professionals and volunteers. Compost and floral are gleaned by professional partners on site and Second Harvest brings together and trains volunteers who rescue, pack and transport the produce donations as soon as the show ends. This year’s donation was so generous, show partner, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County was also able to share produce with LA Regional Food Bank.
“Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is honored to continue our strategic partnership with IFPA at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show, said Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County CEO, Claudia Bonilla Keller. “This collaboration makes an incredible impact on our community. We’re grateful for the exhibitors and IFPA members for their donations which ensures nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables reach those in our community who need it most including children, families and seniors.”
This year’s floral donation was bigger than ever before with over 60 community partners signing up to receive floral donations of loose stems, potted plants, bouquets and more. These partners included organizations that support seniors, veterans, children with visual impairments and their families, and the healthcare professionals and volunteers working in the community. IFPA member, That Flower Feeling, also hosted a consumer giveaway at The Grove, a bustling promenade in Los Angeles, to spread the joy of flowers.
Partners who received flowers expressed how the flowers helped them to spread happiness and joy with their clients and colleagues. One partner expressed “so many residents came up to me during and after the event to tell me how happy the flowers made them.” Another said that the donation allowed them to make 261 door to door floral deliveries at their senior community. One partner also utilized the floral to promote wellness amongst their staff members, “the flowers brought so much joy, color, and calm to our office. It was a wonderful way to start the week,” she said.
IFPA implemented a robust back of house waste sorting operation after the show which helped to maximize the collection of green waste for composting, and also additional waste streams for soft plastics, cardboard and single stream recycling.
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International Fresh Produce Association
The International Fresh Produce Association is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire…
