How the program works
Participating California growers harvest “leftover” produce in the fields and pack in IFCO RPCs. This leftover produce is perfectly nutritious and edible but is inappropriate for sale to grocery retailers due to its size, appearance, etc. The grower then ships the RPCs to a participating local food bank and reports the shipment to IFCO, just as they would for any other shipment.
After the food bank has distributed the donated produce throughout the local community, it sets the empty RPCs aside for IFCO to collect. IFCO picks up the empty RPCs and returns them to its service center in Rancho Cucamonga, CA to be cleaned, inspected, and redeployed.
IFCO reimburses the grower for some or all of the rental cost of the RPCs used for this purpose, and CAFB reimburses the grower for some or all of the costs associated with the transportation and harvesting of the donated produce. This makes donation of the produce financially feasible for the grower, encouraging participation and providing much-needed fresh produce to low income Americans.
Program details are specific to each participating grower and are stipulated in an agreement between IFCO SYSTEMS and the grower prior to participation.
Benefits of participating in the Farm to Family Program (download)
Want to support California Food Banks?
Existing IFCO RPC customers should contact their Account Manager to request participation in the program. To participate with CAFB, please contact:
Christen Gadd
Farm to Family Coordinator
California Association of Food Banks
1624 Franklin Street, Suite 722
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510.272.4435
Email: christen@cafoodbanks.org
www.cafoodbanks.org
|
