More than 225 members of the Southern California produce industry, plus friends and family members, turned out November 8 to take part in the 19th annual Walk for Hope.
The 5-K/2-K fundraising event supports women’s cancer programs at City of Hope Cancer Hospital and Research Center.
The produce industry raised more than $56,000 in sponsorships, $9,000 in walker donations and $4,500 in walker registration fees, said team captain Marty Craner, owner of B&C Fresh Sales, Orange, Calif.
In addition, produce suppliers, retailers, growers and shippers provided an estimated $90,000 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables that were distributed to attendees at the Team Produce booth.
“About 10,000 people registered to walk in this year’s event, raising nearly $1 million,” said Danielle Sapia, assistant director of the Walk for Hope. Sapia said City of Hope was grateful for the support of Team Produce.
“They’re a huge part of our walk,” she said. “Without them, this event would not be the same. They really contribute so much.”
“Team Produce ties in well with City of Hope,” she said, because the produce industry ties in with a healthy living lifestyle and with “superfoods — certain fruits and vegetables proven to be cancer preventatives.”
This was the ninth year the produce industry participated in the fundraiser.
Roger Schroeder, vice president of produce operations for San Bernardino, Calif.-based Stater Bros. Markets, which has backed the walk for several years, lauded the dedication of the rain-drenched participants and said, “This is just the kind of thing Stater Bros. always wanted to support.”
Other companies supporting this year’s fundraiser were:
• Masters Touch Brand LLC, San Diego, Calif.;
• Albertsons Southern California Division, Fullerton, Calif.;
• Apio Inc., Guadalupe, Calif.;
• B&C Fresh Sales;
• Boskovich Farms Inc., Oxnard, Calif.;
• Coast Produce Co., Los Angeles;
• Crunch Pak, Cashmere, Wash.;
• Deminski, Van Valkenburg & Associates LLC, Corona, Calif.
• Davis-Lewis Orchards, Garden Grove, Calif.;
• DLJ Produce Inc., Industry, Calif.;
• Fruit 2 Day, Broomfield, Colo.;
• Dole Fresh Fruit Co., Westlake Village, Calif.;
• Fresh Express Inc., Salinas;
• Hollandia Produce LLC, Carpinteria, Calif.;
• Mariani Nut Co. Inc., Winters, Calif.;
• Perimeter Sales & Merchandising, Los Alamitos, Calif.;
• Progressive Produce, Los Angeles;
• Ready Pac Foods Inc., Irwindale, Calif.;
• Sambazon, San Clemente, Calif.;
• Smart & Final Stores LLC, City of Commerce, Calif.;
• Sunkist Growers Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif.;
• Sun-Rype Products Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada;
• Vons, Calif.
• Westlake Produce Co., Los Angeles.
For more information:
Luis López
Master’s Touch
Tel: (+1) 619-600-4354