Community Involvement
Supporting Our Industry and Our Community
The membership and Board of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council understand that part of creating a dynamic business community is taking advantage of opportunities to share our success and help to make our industry and our community stronger. By supporting industry and community projects, the FPFC supports its membership and helps shape the future of the industry and the world.
Industry Projects
The FPFC has donated a total of 21 salad bars through the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, founded in part by the United Fresh Produce Association. Our donations were among the first in an initiative to put 350 salad bars in California schools.
The FPFC has also made monetary contributions to the Produce For Better Health Foundation, PMA’s Foundation for Industry Talent Career Pathways Program and California Ag in the Classroom.
In addition, FPFC provides thousands of dollars of in-kind support to the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and the Produce For Better Health Foundation, helping their missions to promote the industry and ensure its success and support increased consumption.
Join the Campaign to Put Salad Bars in 350 California Schools
The produce industry is being called upon to support healthy eating habits in school children, while helping to develop the next generation of produce consumers. Founded in part by United Fresh, Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools provides salad bar equipment to schools that allows them to provide a variety of fresh options to kids at lunch.
Research and empirical evidence show that kids make healthier food choices when given the kind of variety a salad bar provides. Better food choices at school not only improve the health and wellness of kids, but educate them about the benefits of eating right for the rest of their lives.
Just $2,825 Puts a Salad Bar in a California School
In keeping with our Mission Statement, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council recently donated two salad bars, at Western High School in Anaheim, CA and at Earl Warren Elementary School in Sacramento, CA.
To learn more about Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, click here.
Donate a salad bar and help us reach our goal of 350 California salad bars.
Community Projects
The FPFC also provides support to several worthy causes outside the industry, specifically the Orange County Food Bank, City of Hope, Common Threads and Caterina’s Club. Caterina’s Club was a beneficiary of the 2013 and 2014 Holiday Luncheons and Charity Auctions, which raised more than $100,000 to help feed homeless children.
The FPFC contributes editorial and advertising in Fresh DIGEST to the Orange County Food Bank and City of Hope, and surplus product from luncheon sponsors is collected by the Food Bank. The FPFC’s work with the Orange County Food Bank has been honored with an Orange County Spirit of Volunteerism Award.
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council also dedicates a fundraising luncheon to City of Hope each year, and supports this premier research hospital with editorial and advertising in Fresh DIGEST, admissions to our events and promotion of their fundraising events. Dozens of industry professionals and their families form Team Produce at City of Hope’s Walk for Hope each November, and provide donor and sponsorship dollars, as well as donated product to support the event.
Team Produce at Walk for Hope
City of Hope is a premier research hospital dedicated to the treatment and cure of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Each year, thousands of supporters gather at City of Hope’s campus in Duarte, CA for Walk for Hope, an event that raises awareness and research funds for women’s cancers. The fresh produce and floral industry not only supports the walk as Team Produce, but also provides sponsorship dollars and donates product to be distributed to the more than 6,000 Walk attendees.
In 2017, more than 150 volunteers from Team Produce raised more than $180,000 in donations, sponsorships and product giveaways.
For information on joining the next Team Produce, contact Marty Craner of B&C Fresh Sales
FPFC Direct Monetary Contributions Policy Statement
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council gives direct monetary contributions to projects and programs which directly support the Council’s mission statement and business purpose.
All submitted requests are reviewed by the Outreach Task Force, who then make recommendations to the Board of Directors for final approval.