<p>Thanks to the hard work of nearly 250 local food bank volunteers, more than 373,000 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers was collected and subsequently donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, the largest donation the food bank has ever received, according to a press release. The fresh produce was donated by exhibitors at the 2013 PMA Fresh Summit expo.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “This is an unprecedented donation, in its size, quality, and healthy profile,” said Natalie Jayroe, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans and Acadiana. “Our member agencies are excited about the additional opportunity to distribute fresh produce to families throughout south Louisiana and will be able to prepare healthier meals for their loved ones.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Bryan Silbermann, PMA’s president and CEO, commented, “Giving back to a community like New Orleans is a special thing for Fresh Summit exhibitors. The hospitality that we and our 18,000 attendees received here is energizing. The opportunity to help provide local residents with fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables is just a small token of all of our appreciation.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> From 2007 – 2012, PMA’s Fresh Summit exhibitors had donated more than 1.6 million pounds of fresh produce to communities in need in the U.S.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Feeding America offers a big ‘thank you’ to PMA’s exhibitors for the much-needed donation of fresh produce to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana,” said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America, the nation’s network of Food Banks. “We are very pleased that we will be able to provide such a generous amount of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to so many low-income people who struggle to feed themselves and their families.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> This is an amazing donation! Thanks to all exhibitors at PMA for your generosity!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/producemarketing/sets/72157636832762144/" target="_new"> Donation Photos </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.pma.com" target="_new"> Produce Marketing Association </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://no-hunger.org" target="_new"> Second Harvest Food Bank </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
