The White House South Lawn came alive with thousands of pumpkins, apples, baby carrots and vibrant mums provided by the International Fresh Produce Association at the annual Hallo-READ festivities hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
More than 8,000 local public school students and military-connected children gathered on the White House South Lawn for an afternoon of trick-or-treating, according to a news release. Participants and their families received seasonal mini pumpkins, as well as apples and baby carrots for healthy snacks provided by IFPA members. In addition to treats, IFPA said it added to the celebration’s festive fall atmosphere with thousands of pumpkins and flowers sourced from farms across the U.S.
IFPA said its support includes Sarah’s Homegrown heirloom, jack-o-lantern and mini pumpkins from Frey Farms, whole apples from Yes! Apples, snack-sized bags of baby carrots from Grimmway Farms and mums from Metrolina Greenhouses to add fresh floral décor throughout the South Lawn. Keany Produce and Gourmet provided wholesale-distributor services for IFPA’s fresh produce donations.
“IFPA is honored to take part in the cherished tradition of Halloween at the White House,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “This celebration is a fantastic opportunity to showcase fresh, healthy treats and highlight the abundance of U.S.-grown produce by our member companies.”
“Featuring fresh produce in our nation’s capital underscores the vital role the produce industry plays in every community and is central to our mission to remove barriers to healthful eating by expanding access to fresh produce wherever children live, learn and play,” Burns continued. “The White House provides a perfect setting to advance this goal, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this joyful event.”
The celebration of fresh continued after the trick-or-treat festivities at the White House event, as the IFPA donated Frey Farms pumpkins to DC Central Kitchen, a nonprofit and social enterprise dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty through job training and providing nutritious food where it is needed most. These pumpkins will be used in holiday meals distributed to the local community.
“From the White House to your house, and every household in between, our industry is at the table providing nourishment and wellness with healthy food and beautiful flowers,” Burns said. “We are proud to collaborate with DC Central Kitchen to serve our D.C. neighbors delicious holiday meals while ensuring none of our beautiful products go to waste.”
