MILLEN, GA - Uniting members of the produce industry to give back to those in need, the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) and the Society of St. Andrew have been working together to send much-needed relief to those in North Carolina and the Florida panhandle that have been affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael. While both buy-side and supply-side alike have banded together to provide aid in the form of fresh produce and water, there is much work to be done, and your help is still needed.
“We are extremely thankful for all of the support we have received from our members to provide these fresh produce shipments and bottled water to the areas hardest hit from these hurricanes,” David Sherrod, President and CEO of the SEPC said. “Our hearts go out to all the victims who have lost so much and those who are trying to put their lives back together. Through our SEPC Cares initiative, we will continue to offer assistance to as many people as we possibly can. Our mission is to have a servant's heart for our community and for the produce industry.”
On October 17th, the Society of St. Andrew delivered about three truckloads of donated produce to Rowland, North Carolina, which was then distributed to surrounding communities. According to a press release, donations included cabbage, sweet potatoes, apples, onions, clementines, and other produce items. SEPC members that were involved include:
- Cabbage Inc.
- Honeycutt Produce
- Nickey Gregory Company
- Shuman Produce
- Wayne Bailey Produce
- Wonderful Citrus
- Zespri Kiwifruit
- ReedTMS Logistics
In Florida, affected residents are still in desperate need of clean water and other necessities. Publix Supermarkets and Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable are assisting the SEPC with contributing a truckload of bottled water, but the Council is hopeful that fellow members will also follow suit once enough utilities have been restored and communities are able to receive them.
For more information on how you can contribute to hurricane survivors, please contact the SEPC at [email protected]. All of our hearts at AndNowUKnow are with those in need.
