During this past fiscal year, the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation contributed nearly $317,450 to a variety of community and agricultural production organizations and projects. In just the past three years, the foundation has distributed more than $1.3 million.
The foundation allocates funding to a variety of worthy community and industry service programs. Most notably, the foundation this year donated more than $100,000 to the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA), which provides services and education to migrant farmworker families and other rural, low-income families. RCMA programs benefit more than 6,200 children in 74 centers operating in 20 counties.
As a response to the vital need for storm-resistant farm worker housing, the foundation once again this year supported the Casa San Juan Bosco housing project coordinated by Catholic Charities Housing of Venice. This landmark residence project, underway near Arcadia, will provide much-needed housing in an agricultural area that was devastated in the 2004 hurricane season. The foundation’s contribution, this year totaling $150,000, helps demonstrate the produce industry’s commitment to developing more resilient farm worker housing solutions and has helped attract millions of dollars in state and federal funding for the project.
The foundation is a leading supporter of the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), which promotes fruit and vegetable consumption. PBH receives substantial financial support from the foundation and FFVA provides leadership to PBH for a landmark branding and marketing initiative, “Fruits & Veggies – More Matters,” to be launched March 2007. This new campaign, based on substantial market research and revised dietary science, will engage consumers, health care providers and produce industry partners with compelling messages about eating fruits and vegetables.
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