Team Produce aids Walk for Hope
City of Hope cancer hospital and research center in Duarte, Calif., had its annual Walk for Hope to fight women’s cancers Nov. 5, and once again members of the Southern California produce industry turned out to help.
More than 150 members of the produce industry, together with friends and family, took part as volunteers and walkers in the 2K/5K walk, said Marty Craner, owner of B&C Fresh Sales, Orange, Calif., who served as team captain.
This was the 11th year that Team Produce has participated.
This year, Team Produce raised more than $80,000 in sponsorships and donations, Craner said.
Members also donated and distributed $100,000 in produce and floral products to many of the nearly 9,000 walk participants at the Team Produce booth.
“Team Produce has been a longtime and incredibly dedicated supporter of Walk for Hope,” said Alyson Sprafkin, senior director of signature events development for City of Hope.
“Not only do Team Produce members raise much needed funds for women’s cancers research and treatment, they generously donate a significant amount of fresh produce for our participants to enjoy,” she said.
Sprafkin said the produce industry’s contribution “nicely complements City of Hope’s superfood research, which has proven that blueberries, mushrooms, pomegranates, cinnamon and grapes can help reduce the risk of cancer."
Team Produce has one of the most popular booths at the walk, she added.
In all, this year’s Walk for Hope raised more than $800,000, Craner said.
Primary Team Produce sponsors included:
- Apio
- American Business Bank
- B & C Fresh Sales
- Bristol Farms
- Cabo Fresh
- California Avocado Commission
- Consolidated West
- Crunch Pak
- Del Monte
- DLJ Produce
- Evolution Fresh
- Farmer John
- Fresh Gourmet
- Fresh Source
- Gelson’s Markets
- Giumarra
- Great West
- Harvest Snaps
- Hollandia
- Humm Kombucha
- Lan Wan
- Litehouse
- Marie’s
- Mellano
- Moonlight
- The Oppenheimer Group
- Perimeter Sales
- Progressive Produce
- Pura Vida
- Safeway/Vons/Pavilions
- San Miguel Produce
- Setton Farms
- Smart and Final
- Stater Brothers
- Taylor Farms
- Temkin International
- Umina Brothers
- VegFresh
- Watermelon Water
- WJL Distributors
- Western Mixers
- Westlake Produce
- Wm. Bolthouse Farms
- Zola
