For the seventh consecutive year, the Southern California produce industry played a significant role in the City of Hope’s annual Walk for Hope Los Angeles.
The Nov. 4 event raised money for the City of Hope cancer hospital and reseach center.
Tom BurfieldTeam Produce official greeter Allen DeMo of Green Thumb Produce, Banning, Calif., welcomes walkers and supporters as they approach the Team Produce booth for fresh produce during the 16th annual Walk for Hope Los Angeles Nov.4 at City of Hope cancer hospital and research center in Duarte, Calif.
About 110 people signed up for Team Produce this year, said team captain Marty Craner, owner of B&C Fresh Sales, Orange, Calif.
Sponsors donated about $50,000, and suppliers and retailers donated more than $100,000 worth of produce that volunteers gave away to walkers and supporters at the Team Produce booth.
In all, 9,000 people registered to walk in the event, raising $1 million, said Megyn Byrnes, the City of Hope’s director of national events.
“City of Hope is grateful for the long-time partnership with the Food Industry Circle and Team Produce,” she said. “The commitment and support of this group is truly inspiring.”
Suppliers and retailers donated more product — and a wider array of product — this year than ever before, Craner said.
“A good percentage of retailers come out and support (the walk),” she said. “We get a great response, and every year it continues to build.”
Tom BurfieldSeveral Southern California produce suppliers and retailers donated more than $100,000 worth of fresh produce during the 16th annual Walk for Hope Los Angeles Nov.4 at City of Hope cancer hospital and research center in Duarte, Calif. The Walk for Hope offers dual opportunities for members of the local produce industry.
Besides giving away hundreds of pounds of produce to the walkers and supporters, she said, “We get to showcase some of our fresh items, and we’re speaking to a group of people who care about their health very much.”
The Walk for Hope is only one way the produce and floral industry raises more than $400,000 annually in support of City of Hope, said Cheryl Kennick, senior director of development for the Food Industry Circle.
“The partnership between this industry and City of Hope has spanned 40 years, raising millions of dollars for City of Hope,” she said.
Walk for Hope Team Produce sponsors included:
- Albertsons/Sav-on Pharmacy
- Allen DeMo Family
- American Business Bank
- Apio Inc.
- B & C Fresh Sales
- Davis Lewis Orchard
- DLJ Produce Inc.
- Dole Fresh Fruit Co.
- Hansen’s Natural
- The HMC Group Marketing Inc.
- Hollandia Produce
- Lanwan
- Litehouse
- Naked Juice
- Perimeter Sales & Merchandising
- Progressive Produce
- Ready Pac Foods Inc.,
- Rynn & Jankowsky
- San Miguel Produce Inc.
- Smart & Final
- Stater Bros. Markets
- Sun-Rype Products Ltd.
- Temkin International
- Umina Bros. Inc.
- S. Lasher
- Sambazon
- Veg Fresh
- Westlake Produce Co., and
- WJL Distributors Inc.
The event supported City of Hope’s multidisciplinary Women’s Cancers Program.
It’s part of the nation’s only series of walks that benefit research, treatment and education programs for cancers unique to women, according to organizers.
For information about the City of Hope or to donate, visit www.cityofhope.org.
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