Partnering with Atlanta Community Food Bank, IFPA supports families in need while promoting sustainability through extensive produce and floral donations after its annual event.
In a significant display of community support, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) recently donated over 226,735 pounds of produce and 8,575 pounds of floral arrangements following its annual Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Georgia.
Partnering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, a Feeding America network member serving 29 counties across northern Georgia, the IFPA ensured that this sizeable donation would directly benefit local families facing food insecurity.
The IFPA’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility played a central role in its decision to donate the leftover produce and floral items.
“We want to ensure our show is as sustainable as possible and being good stewards of our fresh product – both produce and floral – is a critical part of those efforts,”
Cathy Burns, IFPA CEO
For IFPA, this partnership is not new; the association has been working alongside the Feeding America network of food banks since 1983, helping to redistribute fresh items from its expos across the country.
The tradition of donating leftover produce from the event has allowed the fresh produce industry to contribute over 5 million pounds of food to communities in need in the past two decades.
Each year, as the exhibition closes, food bank volunteers promptly organize and pack donations on the show floor, preparing them for distribution to communities in the host city. This year, the Atlanta Community Food Bank managed the local distribution, sending a portion of the produce to the Augusta Food Bank, which faced an increased need for supplies following recent hurricanes.
Kyle Waide, President and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, expressed gratitude for the IFPA’s donation, acknowledging the rising demand for food assistance in the region. “Our region is experiencing heightened demand for food assistance, and we are relying on our partners to help us distribute more food than ever to those in need,” said Waide. Contributions like IFPA’s, he emphasized, are crucial in ensuring access to nutritious food for individuals and families who are food insecure.
Beyond produce, the IFPA also arranged for floral donations to reach a wide array of community organizations. Recipients included The Little Flower Group, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, over 25 local nursing homes, religious institutions, Georgia Tech, non-profits supporting single mothers, Girl Scout troops, Nourish Botanica, and more.
According to a press release, the donations included bouquets, plants, and loose flowers, which were distributed to brighten various community spaces, provide joy to residents, and celebrate local partnerships.
The sustainability efforts extended to green waste as well; approximately four tons of green floral waste were composted for use in local gardens, fostering community agriculture. “There are not a lot of organizations ready to receive over 8,000 lbs of floral donations,” explained IFPA Director of Trade Shows Kyle McMillan.
Reflecting on this year’s donations, McMillan noted the impressive generosity from floral exhibitors and the dedication of local partners who enthusiastically managed the distribution process. The collaboration, he stated, exemplified how extended partnerships can promote sustainability by giving fresh produce and floral arrangements new life in the community.
Looking ahead, IFPA plans to continue its charitable and sustainable efforts. The Global Produce & Floral Show will return to Anaheim in 2025 and is scheduled to revisit Atlanta in 2027, promising further opportunities to support local communities with produce, floral donations, and other valuable contributions.
