EXETER, Calif. — California citrus growers donated 44,000 pounds of citrus to the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) Food Bank last week as part of an ongoing education and outreach program by California Citrus Mutual called Citrus Strong. Citrus Strong is dedicated to educating our state’s elected officials about the benefits that the California citrus industry provides to the State’s economy and local communities, environmental quality, and the overall health of consumers.
A cornerstone of the campaign is the annual “Citrus Stride” – a one-mile charity walk around the State Capitol benefitting community food banks around the state. For each participant, California citrus growers commit to a donation of 1,000 pounds of citrus to the Community Foodbank Alliance for distribution to communities in need.
At this year’s Citrus Stride, held April 19, citrus growers committed to donate an additional truck load of citrus to the community food bank in a participating legislator’s district. With the citrus season now underway, growers and CCM are delivering on that promise!
Thanks to the participation of Senator Jean Fuller, the CAPK Food Bank received the first truckload of citrus donated by Visalia Citrus Packing Group. Senator Fuller made it a point to be at the Food Bank to help receive the generous donation from Visalia Citrus Packing Group.
“I was proud to be part of California Citrus Mutual’s efforts to provide fresh and nutritious citrus to those most in need in our community,” commented Senator Fuller. “Their Citrus Stride event held in Sacramento has resulted in truckloads of fresh and nutritional fruit for food banks around California, including the Kern Food Bank. Thank you to everyone from California Citrus Mutual who worked so hard to make Citrus Stride such a successful and generous event that benefits so many in our region,” concluded Fuller.
“It is very exciting knowing that you work in an industry that is so eager to help close the hunger gap in California and willing to donate this much fruit to a great cause,” stated CCM’s Program Coordinator Lauren Droogh. “We are thrilled to work with community food banks and can’t wait to showcase the local packinghouses that are helping us fulfill this pledge.”
–California Citrus Mutual
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