Tropical produce importer and distributor Fyffes says it has provided more than 24 million healthy meals to countries in Europe, Latin America and North America.
In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption and Production, Fyffes has made a commitment to helping build a world that is food secure, free of hunger, and avoids food loss, according to a news release.
The company says it set a target of providing 5 million healthy meals to vulnerable communities by the end of 2025 and has exceeded this ahead of time and by a factor of four.
The U.S. topped the table of donations with over 10.5 million meals, closely followed by the U.K. at over 10 million meals. Ireland and Germany where also high on the list with 1,1175,798 and 969,048 meals respectively. Over 1.5 million meals have been provided in Latin America, the release said.
“We are extremely proud to share that we have surpassed our target of donating five million healthy meals to people in vulnerable groups,” said Fyffes CEO Helge Sparsoe. “The achievement of this target means even more in the current global cost of-living crisis where the demand for food banks has increased exponentially.
“Donating over 24 million meals is a wonderful demonstration of sustainability in action and we look forward to reaching even more communities in 2025,” she added.
Fyffes says a third of all food produced is wasted, representing about 8% of global greenhouse gases, and the demand for food bank services has increased globally due to inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis.
Through partnerships with customers and for-purpose organizations, Fyffes donates fresh bananas, pineapples and melons to food banks who then help to minimize food waste by redistributing the surplus fruit to those charities and communities that are most in need, the release said.
Fyffes partners with organizations including FoodCloud and Cream of the Crop in Ireland; FareShare and The Bread and Butter Thing in the U.K.; Hamburger Tafel in Germany; and Philabundance, Armfull of Help and San Antonio Food Bank in the U.S.
Throughout Latin America, where Fyffes grows its fruit, the company works with a range of food banks, including The Global Foodbanking Network. Fyffes says it also works with local communities and organizations in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Ecuador to provide access to healthy food.
Its projects in Honduras, which aim to reduce the amount of fruit left behind in the field and redistribute it to vulnerable communities, have resulted in the donation of more than half a million meals, the company said.
