LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - After the 15th annual Navidad en el Barrio event came to a close this week, the Allen Lund Company (ALC) announced record produce donations for 2018.
Navidad en el Barrio was established in 1972 by Danny Villanueva, former NFL kicker. This event continues the company mission to provide a healthy Christmas dinner to the most underserved families in Southern California.
"2018 was a remarkable year for Navidad en el Barrio," stated Nora Trueblood, Director of Marketing. "We had growers from Texas, Idaho, Washington, and California participate this year, which translated to four full truckloads of fresh produce. We were able to provide an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to every family, which does not happen every year."
All fresh items donated are added to a basket which includes staples like rice, tortillas, water, pasta, tomato sauce, beans, and fresh chicken. These baskets are then handed out to those in need, and provide a healthy holiday meal for the whole family.
"What made this year especially wonderful was the new growers, many of whom we met at PMA Fresh Summit, that were first-time donors to this program," continued Trueblood. "From potatoes, and carrots to citrus, apples, pumpkins, mixed greens, and avocados, every family had fresh items in their dinner baskets."
2018 produce donors included: Rainer Fruit, Bonipak Produce, Wada Farms, Grimmway, Cacique, Inc., Coca-Cola Refreshments, Faribault Foods, Mother's Nutritional Center, Northgate Supermarkets, Wonderful Citrus, Mission Produce, Garofalo Pasta/Advantage Solutions, El Dorado Growers, Naturipe, J & D Produce, Gem-Pack Berries, Sage Fruit Company, Novamex, and American Fresh Produce.
ALC provided the coordination of donated product, as well as the logistical support of moving produce from Texas, Idaho, Washington, and in-state California to the warehouse for distribution on December 15, 2018. ALC contract carriers, Wanship and Chevez Express, stepped in and donated their time and equipment to assist in this year's Navidad en el Barrio event.
AndNowUKnow applauds ALC for coordinating an industry-wide effort to help families in need get fresh produce this holiday season.
