FPFC holds luncheon to benefit City of Hope
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its annual membership luncheon to benefit the City of Hope, a Southern California cancer and research hospital. The luncheon, held Aug. 9 in Cerritos, CA, drew more than 200 people from various FPFC member companies. Master of Ceremonies Rebecca Calvin of Stater Bros. Markets was joined by Marvin Quebec of Quebec Distributing Co., patient speaker John Cloer, and Dr. Charles Brenner from the City of Hope.
The local food industry adopted the innovative program as its charity of choice in 1973 and has since raised millions of dollars for the hospital during the last 50 years. Through the City of Hope programs and donations from the day of the luncheon, the produce industry raised over $100,000 this year.
Luncheon sponsors included Frieda's, BAKO Sweet, DLJ Produce, Westlake Produce Co., Mixed Nuts, Max Group Corp., PK Packaging, Veg-Fresh Farms, M&M Farms, North Shore Living Herbs + Greens, Perimeter Sales & Merchandising and Sunshine Bouquet.
Blake Lee, Bill Coombs, Patti Coombs, Cristin Coombs and Sue Momita of DLJ Produce.
Megan Klemz and Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros. Markets with Veronica Rodarte of Progressive Produce.
Amanda Sains of Joolies, Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros., and Nancy Hamilton and Jenny Craig of R Squared Fresh Solutions.
Darryl Bollack of Mariani Nut Co. with Amanda Sains of Joolies and Blair Butterworth of Local Bounti.
Patti Coombs and Sue Momita of DLJ Produce with Jacob Cadwallader of Stater Bros. Markets.
Cheryl Kennick of City of Hope with Nancy Hamilton of R Squared Fresh Solutions and Rebecca Calvin of Stater Bros. Markets.
Daniel Gonzalez with Chris Ramirez, Bertha Luna and Cesar Rico of Stater Bros. Markets.
Bryan Presley of Albertsons with Nancy Hamilton of R Squared Fresh Solutions and Kelly Craner of B&C Fresh Sales.
Ana Campos and Jorge Estrada of Romas R Us Inc.
Bryan Presley of Albertsons with Marty Craner of B&C Fresh Sales, and Brad Martin and Chris Martin of Perimeter Sales & Merchandising.
Rebecca Calvin of Stater Bros. with Cheryl Kennick of City of Hope, Marvin Quebec of Quebec Distributing Co., Susan Noritake of BAKO Sweet and Dr. Charles Brenner of City of Hope.
Lindsay and Adam Laliberte of WJL Distributors with patient speaker John Cloer and his father, Bill Cloer.
2022 FPFC Apprentice Program members Noah Lines of Westlake Produce Co., Shane Aldrich of Gardikas Produce, Alexis Storms of JLZ Produce, Holly Gonzales of Off Shoot Brands, Courtney Ludford of Wonderful Citrus, Jake Beggin of Local Bounti, Aby McPherson of Frieda’s, Jackie Nakashian of Trinity Fruit and Morgan Bahri of AweSum Organics.
Mario Bryant of Stater Bros. Markets sings the National Anthem.
