TAMPA, Fla. — IFCO SYSTEMS, the global leader in Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) for fresh products, today announced that it is donating containers to Ag Against Hunger, a nonprofit that provides people in need with fresh and nutritious surplus produce from local fields. Ag Against Hunger (agagainsthunger.org) will use IFCO RPCs to more efficiently transport fruit and vegetables donated by growers in the Salinas area to food banks throughout California and to others in five western states via the organization’s warehouse cooler facility.
“IFCO is pleased to join many of our produce industry partners in supporting Ag Against Hunger’s worthwhile efforts. By using our RPCs to transport product that might have entered the waste stream to people who need its nourishment, the group increases the efficiency of the supply chain, reduces environmental impact and enhances the quality of the food delivered to the recipients,” said Fred Heptinstall, President and General Manager, IFCO SYSTEMS US.
Ag Against Hunger's mission is to alleviate hunger by creating a connection between the agricultural community and food assistance programs. Since 1990, the generous donations of surplus produce from local growers and shippers have helped Ag Against Hunger bring 200 million pounds of produce to tens of millions of hungry children, adults and seniors.
“We are grateful for IFCO’s generosity in allowing us the use of these brand new RPCs. Tools like these are invaluable to our important mission of preventing produce waste by gathering fresh surplus produce from local farmers and distributing it to our community food banks in an effort to provide those in need with healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Thank you IFCO for providing us with this vital and environment-friendly resource," said Colby Pereira, Board President, Ag Against Hunger.
As the market leader with more than 170 million RPCs in circulation worldwide, IFCO is the leading provider of reusable containers to the fresh food sector. IFCO handles all RPC logistics, from manufacturing to cleaning to re-entry into the supply chain. After retail use, IFCO RPCs are folded, collected and shipped back to one of IFCO’s service facilities, where they are sanitized and prepared for re-use.
Additional Information
IFCO is an international logistics service provider with more than 210 locations worldwide. IFCO operates a pool of over 170 million Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) globally, which are used primarily to transport fresh produce from growers to leading grocery retailers. IFCO is part of Brambles Limited.
WORLDWIDE RESPONSIBILITY is an IFCO initiative under which IFCO continues to assume its social and environmental responsibilities. Within the scope of this initiative, IFCO supports Food Banks worldwide in their honorable effort to provide food to the needy through the provision of reusable containers and by co-financing deliver vehicles.
Contacts
Source: IFCO SYSTEMS
