Latest News From Social Responsibility

California Giant, Watsonville, Calif., has launched a fundraising Gofundme account, Spreading Smiles, after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled events that would have benefitted non-profits in the greater Pajaro Valley.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending contracts in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to prevent a gap while third-round contracts are approved.

Rainier Fruit, Selah, Wash., has earned Equitable Food Initiative certification for its largest farm, which is more than 2,300 acres.

Wonderful Pistachios is supporting agricultural workers in Kings County, Calif., with an auction of gear worn by pro boxer Jose Ramirez, who is sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios.

Organics Unlimited, San Diego, is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the GROW (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers) Month in September.

Lipman has provided students with a backpack full of school supplies for the past 10 years, and although the COVID-19 pandemic has altered plans, the company continued the program this school year.

Bolthouse Farms continues its donation program, Argentine lemon importer Salix Fruits reports high demand and New York agencies releases guidelines in this latest roundup of COVID-19-related news.

(UPDATED) Companies continue to find ways to help families during the pandemic across the country, from donations of fruits and vegetables to service helping agencies feed people.

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that the status quo is no longer acceptable. We have to acknowledge that if businesses are going to thrive, this necessitates a healthy environment and equitable society.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association will assist in the delivery of the Surplus Food Rescue Program developed by the Canadian government.

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets is piloting in six locations the food waste reduction program Flashfood.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now allowing companies in the newest round of contracts for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to pack commodity-specific boxes, including produce-only boxes.

Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, Calif., established the HarvestSelect box program for retail outlets to give convenient and fast options to consumers who want to reduce time spent in stores during the pandemic.

The USDA is now allowing companies in the newest round of contracts for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to pack commodity-specific boxes, allowing companies to pack produce-only boxes.

The Wonderful Co., Los Angeles, is donating $1 million to non-profit organizations and schools in California’s Central Valley to offset COVID-19 losses.

As anticipated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing a third round of contracts for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, to spend the full $3 billion approved for the program.

Companies, trade associations and other groups continue to offer help during the COVID-19 crisis, whether it’s a program to help feed people in an uncertain economic period or helping farmworkers stay safe.

The Produce Marketing Association is creating a task force on diversity and inclusion in the produce and floral industries.

Retailer Giant Food, in partnership with Avocados from Peru, is donating a trailer load of avocados to Feeding America food banks on National Avocado Day, July 31.

As anticipated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing a third round of contracts for the Farmers to Family Food Box Program, to spend the full $3 billion approved for the program.

Once the foodservice industry re-emerges from the coronavirus shutdowns, it will be changed forever. How does the industry make sure the change is for the better?

Increasing automation, using bio-based materials and stepping up recycling education efforts are a few ways suppliers have responded to sustainable packaging demands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be announcing the availability of another $500 million to $700 million for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program this week.

Chiquita has earned the Blue Flag Award again.

Deeper connections with supply partners, labor savings through technology and more racial diversity at top levels are takeaways that foodservice executives have gathered since the coronavirus disrupted the industry.

Food waste and hunger are entangled problems with a common solution, Talia Shandler of Los Angeles-based SGS Produce said about the message in the Emmy-nominated “LA Foodways” documentary.

The Consumer Goods Forum, a global group of retailers and marketers that created the Global Food Safety Initiative, has a new initiative to create a benchmark for sustainability audits.

A number of online events are scheduled around the continuing COVID-19 crises, designed to educate and in one case, to celebrate the end of a harvest in what has been very unorthodox circumstances.

For many people in the produce industry, “sustainability” and “stewardship” are seen as interchangeable terms.

Promotora Agricola El Toro, a grower, packer and shipper with nearly 10,000 acres in Baja California, Mexico, has earned Equitable Food Initiative certification.

Potato and onion grower-shipper RPE, Bancroft, Wis., is adopting How2Recycle package labeling for Tasteful Selections products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already signaled an intent to distribute a third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program funds, according to the United Fresh Produce Association.

Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., is awarding 64 college scholarships through the Rod and Bob Grimm Memorial Scholarship Program.

From offering retailers help tailor programs to retailers needs to delivering meals and ramping up security and sanitation, companies are responding in different ways to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From highlighting the immunity-boosting properties of fresh citrus to taking an in-depth look at how the pandemic is affecting different sectors of the industry, companies continue to respond during the crisis.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $512 million for fresh produce purchases through renewed contracts to companies packing and distributing in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Castroville, Calif.-based Ocean Mist Farms has received Blue Zones Project approval of their Monterey, Calif., worksite, according to the company.

What is your top goal for sustainability?

The produce industry has been working to help feed families during the COVID-19 pandemic in a number of ways.

Wholesum published its annual Conscientious Company Report focusing on sustainability efforts made in 2019.

Produce for Kids has a new website with detailed recipes and other information designed to engage consumers.

Pineapple grower-importer Chestnut Hill Farms is partnering with Fresh Fruit, a Dominican Republic exporter, to provide organic fair-trade bananas to East Coast and Gulf Coast states.

Even a company founded on using food that would otherwise go to waste can improve its sustainability practices — evidenced by the latest efforts of Hungry Harvest.

The USDA is offering contracts for its massive food box program to companies that were passed over in the first round of contracts for technical errors, such as a missed signature or unchecked box.

The fresh produce industry continues to stress worker safety during the pandemic, while helping consumers eat healthfully during the COVID-19 crisis. Here are some recent news items related to the pandemic.

Virtual tours and demos, an online wine auction and food box donations enabled the fresh produce industry to response to the realities caused by the pandemic.

Little Leaf Farms, Devens, Mass., is a sponsor of the 2020 Pan-Mass Challenge cycling event to raise funds for cancer research and treatment, which has moved to virtual event this year because of the pandemic.

Farm Credit donated nearly $255,000 to create an endowment fund for agribusiness students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The fresh produce industry continues to help families with meals during the pandemic, and employees are going above and beyond during the pandemic.

The United Fresh Produce Association will address the inequality of opportunity in the industry, a collaboration with a U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiative following the death of George Floyd and nationwide protests.