Last year, our network delivered over 18 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to our neighbors in need. That’s over six times as much produce as we distributed in 2014, when we created our current ten-year strategic plan.
This change was not an accident, and it wasn’t always easy. And it’s not over. We continue to work to expand access to fresh foods: meat, dairy, fresh and unprocessed fruit and vegetables, because our neighbors have told us these are the products they want the most. Fresh Food makes up 59 percent of our total product mix.
In a recent survey of the people we serve, only 32 percent reported that they eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily, because fresh food is hard to access in many communities. Fifty-seven percent of people said fresh fruits and vegetables are hard to get in their neighborhood, and 83 percent said that fresh fruits and vegetables cost too much to buy. We also know that diet-related disease is higher in communities struggling with poverty, and we know that poor nutrition contributes to a number of negative social, health, and economic outcomes for people experiencing food insecurity.
That’s why we have been transforming our facility, fleet, network, and operating models to support more fresh food as we continue to expand our overall food assistance efforts to help ensure our neighbors have food on their tables every day.
