Trendspotting: As SNAP crisis nears, industry mobilizes to fight hunger
Trendspotting: As SNAP crisis nears, industry mobilizes to fight hunger
The International Fresh Produce Association, along with Global Produce & Floral Show exhibitors, recently donated 226,227 pounds of fresh, quality produce to the local Orange County and Los Angeles community. Each year the donation occurs in the area in which the Global show takes place, but it takes on greater significance this year with the expiration of SNAP benefits looming tomorrow.
“We greatly value the partnerships we have with local organizations that help us to rescue and deliver produce, floral and compost to benefit the communities that welcome our show each year,” said IFPA Director of Trade Shows Kyle McMillan. “This allows us to ensure the investments our members and partners make in our show can extend far beyond the expo floor. We’re grateful for our exhibitors for their generosity and for our local colleagues who do such important work supporting the communities who welcome our Show each year.”
“Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is honored to continue our strategic partnership with IFPA at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show," said Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County CEO Claudia Bonilla Keller. “This collaboration makes an incredible impact on our community. We’re grateful for the exhibitors and IFPA members for their donations which ensures nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables reach those in our community who need it most including children, families and seniors.”
With SNAP funding set to expire tomorrow, there are organizations looking to help those that need it. DoorDash, for example, has aligned with 25 grocery partners to form a collective Emergency Food Response to support those impacted by loss of SNAP benefits.
Winn-Dixie, ShopRite, Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage, The Fresh Grocer, Price Rite Marketplace, the Raley’s Cos., Save Mart Cos., BJ’s Wholesale Club, Food City, El Super, Fiesta Mart, Smart & Final and Strack & Van Til are expanding support for SNAP recipients on DoorDash by helping waive delivery and service fees on one grocery order from their stores for SNAP recipients in November while funding lasts.
“As the SNAP funding cliff approaches, the alarm is growing louder. More families are growing worried about putting food on the table,” said Max Rettig, vice president and global head of public policy at DoorDash. “We’re proud that more of our grocery partners are stepping up and joining in this fight alongside us, and we’re committed to being there for our neighbors in need for as long as it takes.”
Earlier this week, DoorDash announced an Emergency Food Response for SNAP recipients and Project DASH partners who may be impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits, along with additional contributions of food from DashMart locations.
The new partners join Sprouts, Dollar General, Schnucks, Food Lion, Giant Foods, The Giant Co., Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle and Wegmans, already participating in the effort.
The Farmlink Project is responding to this crisis with a pledge to deliver 10 million pounds of food (equivalent to 8.3 million free meals) to communities nationwide by Thanksgiving.
“Families are bracing for tighter grocery budgets even as billions of pounds of fresh produce go unused,” said Eliza Blank, CEO of The Farmlink Project. “In a country with this much abundance, that mismatch shouldn’t exist. Farmlink can help close that gap by moving fresh food fast and at scale. If benefits are cut or delayed, we’re ready to surge alongside our partners to keep good food out of landfills and on kitchen tables. We can’t let a benefits crisis become a hunger crisis.”
