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West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, Calif., is donating pallets of avocados during pandmeic

The disconnect between long lines at food banks during the COVID-19 crisis and images of wasted produce has struck a nerve with the American public.

Rarely has the produce industry less predictable than it is now.

Dole, Western Growers, Imperfect Foods and other industry members are donating food and equipment, and offering services directly targeted to easing hardships during the pandemic.

Delving into the detail of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, Robert Guenther visited April 21 with The Packer’s Tom Karst.

Companies awarded contracts through the USDA’s Buy Fresh program will be boxing the produce themselves to distribute to food banks, and the program is expected to last for six months at $100 million in produce a month.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Nogales, Ariz., is recognizing the efforts of its members to keep food moving through the supply chain during the pandemic.

Produce companies and allied industries continue to respond to the need for fresh produce, monetary donations and other resources at charitable organizations across the country as the pandemic continues.

The School Nutrition Association and United Fresh are partnering to connect produce distributors to school foodservice directors looking for single-serve, wrapped produce as part of meal distributions.

Produce and allied industry companies are finding ways to help consumers whose finances have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with donations of produce and resources.