Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/986636
association news Specialty Food Companies Embrace Hunger Relief T he Specialty Food Association and its member companies took part in Embrace Hunger Relief month this April by volunteering time, donating prod- ucts and/or cash to hunger relief organizations, and sharing their efforts on social media using the hashtag #EmbraceHungerRelief. Among the most notable efforts were those taken by St. Louis-based Straub's, which participated in a number of ways. The retailer's employees donated more than $1,000 through elective payroll deduc- tions, which Straub's matched at $0.50 on the dollar. More than $1,500 from that effort was donated to Operation Food Search, which is the largest distributor of free food in the Missouri and Illinois bi-state area. Operation Food Search distributes more than $3 mil- lion worth of food to 330 community partners, which in turn feed 200,000 people each month—nearly one- third of whom are children. Straub's employees also donated a minimum of $5 to Operation Food Search for the opportunity to wear jeans to work for an entire weekend in April. Straub's matched these donations 100 percent, and close to $500 was donated as part of the effort. Dozens of Straub's employees also volunteered two hours of their time to Operation Food Search, and in return were given an hour of paid personal time by Straub's. Shoppers got in on the act by donating in $1, $3, $5 or $10 increments at the register for a total of $350, and by donating purchased foods via collection barrels located in-store. "Being in the specialty food business, we get to see some of the best-tasting and highest-quality prod- ucts that are made from around the world, yet we have neighbors just a few miles from our stores who wonder where their next meal may come from. So we took action," says Trip Straub of Straub's. "With our time, dollars, and food drives, our staff and customers have had a lot of fun being able to help our local neighbors who need it the most." Staff members from the Specialty Food Association embraced hunger relief by helping distribute 11,300 pounds of cabbage, carrots, summer squash, and potatoes to area residents at St. Mary's Mobile Market in Bronx, N.Y. Twice a month, City Harvest sets up the farmers' market-style Mobile Market which affords nearly 10,000 households access to fresh produce and offers education related to healthy cooking and well- ness programs. "My experience with City Harvest reminded me that we, as human beings, are all a team and need to support and care for each other," says Melissa Kurtis, events engagement specialist with the SFA. "It was an amazing experience and lovely to meet so many wonderful people." NEW WEBINARS AND CONFERENCE CALLS ON DEMAND Food Safety Monday Conference Call. The FDA has published its final rule aimed at preventing intentional adulteration from acts intended to cause widespread harm to the general public, including acts of terrorism targeting the food supply both in the U.S. and overseas. Every company is required to develop a food defense plan, and training will be required for all frontline personnel. Listen to this recording of Ron Tanner, SFA vice president of philanthropy, government, and industry relations and Marsha Echols, SFA Washington Counsel, to learn what you must do. sofi Winners Promotion Opportunities Discussion. Did your product win a 2018 sofi Award? Listen to this recording of members of the SFA sofi Awards team as they answer questions about promotion opportunities for all 2018 sofi Award winners. These recordings can be found in the Learning Center at learning.specialtyfood.com. 28 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com