A 2013 study estimated that 14.3 percent of American households, or about 17.5 million households in total, were food insecure. Around 5.6 percent of U.S. households, or 6.8 million households, were identified as having very low food security.
Hunger exists in every community across the country, and millions of Americans have to make a tough decision every day on whether to feed their family or pay for other necessities like housing and transportation. If your company had a simple way to commit to helping these Americans, would you help them? Donating to food banks is one great way that fresh produce growers or retailers can help. Here’s why:
On a worldwide scale, almost half of total food production is lost as result of being discarded in processing, transport, retail, and kitchens. In the United States alone, as much as 30 percent of food, valued at roughly $48 billion, is thrown away each year. Donation of food is an important avenue for eliminating food waste. A number of ingredients go into a successful food donation policy, including the availability of food banks to distribute donations, and to respond quickly when shelf life is short.
These efforts are bolstered by effective communication and cooperation between food bank locations to share the bounty when too much of a single product is available. From the perspective of the donor, an effective corporate donation policy and established food bank relationships help establish a pathway by which donations can be diverted and distributed to the needy.
Social responsibility programs offered by companies resonate with their customers and the communities in which they operate, as well as their employees. Businesses are increasingly recognizing that active participation in social and environmental change initiatives is the right thing to do for their long term success.
Studies have shown that 89% of U.S. consumers will switch brands to one associated with a cause, given comparable price and quality.
Interested in getting involved with food banks today? Click here to search for a food bank near your company’s offices. We can’t wait to see how our industry’s members choose to give back in 2016.
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