Throughout 2017, the Association of Organizations of Banana Producers of the Canary Islands (ASPROCAN) has donated a total of 2,838,389 kilos of bananas to the 56 food banks distributed across the country and managed by the Spanish Federation of Food Banks (FESBAL).
The Canary banana sector, consisting of about 8,000 producers, has been collaborating since 2013 with the FESBAL, with which it coordinates the delivery of Canary bananas, providing the maximum number of kilos that the banks can handle, given the logistical limitations.
The contribution made by Canary banana producers reaches about one and a half million people each year, and the Food Banks receive all this fruit without any additional costs, as the sector assumes all the expenses.
The contribution made by Canary banana producers reaches about one and a half million people each year, and the Food Banks receive all this fruit without any additional costs, as the sector assumes all the expenses.
In the case of bananas, the producers are fully in charge of the fruit's transportation to each of the collection centres and Food Banks, since, unlike other fruits and vegetables, there are not any subsidies or aid for the handling of donations to the Food Banks or their transport.
As a result of the agreement signed in 2013 by ASPROCAN and FESBAL, more than 12 million Canary bananas have been donated over the last five years to the 56 food banks distributed across Spain.
As a result of the agreement signed in 2013 by ASPROCAN and FESBAL, more than 12 million Canary bananas have been donated over the last five years to the 56 food banks distributed across Spain.
Domingo MartÃn, president of ASPROCAN, considers this "agreement a priority for banana producers in the Canary Islands. We are committed to giving something back to society in return for the trust it places in us every day. For that reason, we strive to collaborate with a number of social responsibility initiatives, as well as with those devoted to the protection of the environment and the promotion of healthy habits."