United Fresh Start Foundation awards $25,000 in grants

The United Fresh Start Foundation recently infused the fresh produce industry with 25 $1,000 COVID-19 Rapid Response FRESH Grants to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for children and families in need during the coronavirus crisis.

United Fresh said the grants also help create opportunities for foodservice distributors experiencing lost markets due to the restaurant, hospitality, and school shutdowns.

“During this time of crisis, we’re honored to be able to ensure that 25 more communities will have access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Lisa McNeece, vice president of foodservice and industrial sales at Grimmway Enterprises, and chair of the United Fresh Start Foundation board of trustees. “We praise all of the companies across the supply chain working within their communities to broaden access to fresh fruits and vegetables, despite their own economic hardships.”

The 25 grant recipients will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to children and families in need, reaching them in schools, community centers, and other emergency feeding sites.

Grant recipient DNO Produce will donate fresh produce to hundreds who are served by the organization Communities in Schools, working with the Southwest City Schools, in Grove City OH.

“When you know what the right thing to do is, it is important that you move forward and do it wholeheartedly—that’s what DNO Produce always strives to do,” added Alex DiNovo, president and chief operating officer for DNO Produce.

Another grant recipient, Brothers Produce of Dallas, committed fresh produce donations to hundreds of families that are part of the local community served by Range Elementary School in Mesquite TX.

“Our community has been very appreciative of the fresh produce donations,” said Jose Monreal, finance/HR Director at Brothers Produce. “We are so glad to be able to provide our underserved community with access to fresh fruits and vegetables to help ease their burden of bringing food to the table.”

Zafar Produce near Binghamton NY used its grant funds to help serve hundreds through a local food bank.

“The Food Bank of Hudson Valley was ecstatic to receive our bananas, lettuce, broccoli, strawberries  and avocados,” said Tom Brandt, director of real estate at Zafar. “We’re thrilled that we took advantage of this opportunity to give back to our local community and we will be looking for additional opportunities to serve them in the future.”

The program is funded through the generosity of those individuals who have agreed to donate their prepaid registration fees for the United Fresh 2020 Convention in San Diego to the United Fresh Start Foundation. Additional donations will allow the foundation to build upon its efforts to support companies with fresh produce donations to those in need. Make your donation here.

Here are the 25 COVID-19 Rapid Response FRESH Grants recipients, and the organizations and schools receiving their fresh produce donations:

(Grant recipient; Organization/school district receiving fresh produce donation)

• AeroFarms, Newark NJ; Tablet to Table
• Aloha Produce Foodservices, Bend OR; The Giving Plate, The Shephard’s House Ministries, Council on Aging, and Co Veterans
• AM Fresh North America, Glassboro NJ; Glassboro Food Bank
• Ark Foods Group, Brooklyn NY; City Harvest
• Bonanza Produce Company, Sparks NV; Reno Sparks Gospel Mission
• Brothers Produce of Dallas, Dallas TX; Range Elementary (Mesquite TX)
• DNO Produce, Columbus OH; Communities in Schools, Southwest City Schools, Grove City, OH
• Freshway Produce, Atlanta GA; Feeding South Florida
• Indianhead Foodservice, Eau Claire WI; Chippewa Falls Area School District
• J&J Produce Company, Hattiesburg MS; Lamar County School District, Petal School District, Forrest School District, Hattiesburg Public School District
• JH Honeycutt & Sons, Chadbourn, NC; Food Bank Central & Eastern North Carolina
• Kimball & Thompson Produce Co, Lowell AR; Arkansas Foodbank
• Lancaster Foods, Jessup, MD; ALIVE! Food Program (Alexandria VA)
• Limehouse Produce, North Charleston SC; Lowcountry Food Bank
• Miller Farms, Clinton MD; Capital Area Food Bank (Washington DC)
• Potato Specialty Co, Lubbock TX; Lubbock Impact
• Preferred Produce, Detroit MI; Motor City Mitten Mission
• Pure Flavor, Leamington, Ontario; Peach County Schools
• Sirna & Sons Produce, Ravenna  OH; Center of Hope
• Southern Colorado Farms, Center CO; Care and Share Food Banks
• Specialty Produce, San Diego CA; San Diego Food Bank
• Tropical Sourcing, Livingston NJ; Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce
• Willie Itule Produce, Phoenix AZ; St. Mary’s Food Bank
• Worden Farm, Punta Gorda FL; All Faiths Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club Sarasota County and Charlotte County
• Zafar Produce, Windsor, NY; Food Bank of the Hudson Valley

“We’re proud to continue bringing community members and the supply chain together to break down the barriers that impact access to fresh produce during this extraordinary time,” said Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of United Fresh.

Visit unitedfreshstart.org for complete details on the COVID-19 Rapid Response FRESH Grants program.