LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Since 2004, Allen Lund Company (ALC) has been working with growers/producers and carriers in support of Navidad en el Barrio. The two organizations are now spreading the word to fresh produce providers that they will be seeking donations come December.

"Navidad en el Barrio has been a part of the Allen Lund Company's commitment to community service since 2004. In my new role as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Navidad en el Barrio, it's comforting to know ALC continues to support our annual Christmas grocery initiative,” Nora Trueblood, who is also the retired Director of Marketing at ALC, told me. “We look forward to working with growers and shippers again in 2026 to provide healthy options to families. Together, we hope to supply a complete Christmas dinner and supplementary groceries to 12,000 food-insecure households this year, and we thank ALC for their unwavering support."

Donations will be accepted the week of December 8, with groceries delivered Saturday, December 12, 2026. Perishables are delivered via ALC to a warehouse location and then delivered to agencies throughout SoCal for distribution to families.

Navidad en el Barrio was established in 1972 with the mission of providing a healthy Christmas dinner to thousands of the most needy Southern California families. Over 75,000 people are served annually through the efforts of Navidad En El Barrio and their team.

"Navidad en el Barrio is a team event!” Kenny Lund, Executive Vice President at Allen Lund Company and ALC Logistics, added. “It brings growers, transportation companies, retailers, and many individuals all together to benefit those who need assistance during the holidays. I am so proud of our involvement, and thankful for the suppliers of product who help us and the Navidad group to do so much good. There is no better way to kick off the Christmas season."

To get involved, contact Nora by phone at (818) 257-4914 or by email at [email protected]. The produce industry is known to lend a helping hand, assuring me that the contributions made to Navidad en el Barrio will be plentiful.

MCALLEN, TX - Fox Packaging is coming to the Global Produce & Floral Show ready to answer your questions! With a booth built around the questions customers actually ask, Fox is helping simplify every aspect of fresh produce packaging for its partners.

"We hear the same questions from partners every season," shares Aaron Fox, Vice President of Fox Packaging. "How do I choose the right bag for this commodity? What does EPR mean for my operation? How do I get more out of my pack line? We decided to put those questions front and center and have experts ready to answer them."

Printed on the walls of the booth will be some of the most frequently asked questions, ranging from packaging (flexible formats, shelf-life, recyclability, PCR, and EPR costs) to equipment (throughput, changeovers, labor reduction, and automation).

Heading into 2027, regulation is another key area of focus for Fox Packaging customers. As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws like California's SB 54 require growers and shippers to report detailed packaging data and show how they're reducing packaging, many companies are adapting to the increased requests for transparency for the first time.

"A lot of our partners are seeing these reporting requests land in their inbox and don't know where to start," adds Iliana Csanyi, Sustainability Manager at Fox Packaging. "They need to know what material their bags are made of, what each one weighs, and how much they're running. That's information we can help them pull together."

To fill that gap, some companies hire outside consultants, paying extra for packaging data their flexible packaging supplier already has on hand, Victoria Lopez, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Fox Packaging, tells me.

"We want our customers to understand that this is more straightforward than having to pay a consultant," says Victoria. "As their packaging supplier, a lot of that information starts with us, and we can help them get it."

To help its partners meet these evolving demands, Fox has been working directly with customers on their source reduction responses and building out resources on its EPR Field Guide. Fox also offers film with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content.

"EPR isn't something packers should have to figure out alone," Victoria continues. "Our job is to make sure they have the answers they need from their packaging supplier."

"The right bag protects the product and keeps good food out of landfills," adds Aaron Fox, Vice President of Fox Packaging. "That's the conversation we want the industry to be having about packaging."

Get the answers on packaging and equipment in one conversation at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show, booth #3225. For more pre-show insights, stick around!