Hermiston, OR – Family-owned, fresh and sustainable grower of onions, River Point Farms, announces the company was awarded the Oregon Food Bank’s “Hunger Buster” of the year award, for their onion donations that were distributed to approximately 900,000 people in Oregon in 2014.
In 2014, River Point Farms donated 630,934 lbs. of onions to support the Oregon Food Banks’ initiatives. In addition, River Point Farms donated an additional 75,000 lbs. to the regional Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) branch of the Oregon Food Bank.
“River Point Farms believes it is imperative to give back to our local communities. About fifteen percent of Oregon Households are living with food insecurity, said Carly Kwak-Bauch, River Point Farms vice president of sales. “Since a major part of our mission is feeding people using responsible growing methods, donating to The Oregon Food Bank seems like a natural fit for us to support our local communities.”
“At River Point Farms, we focus on minimizing food waste at all levels” said Jonathan Miller, production manager at River Point Farms Fresh Pack Facility. “The regular donations River Point Farms makes to the Oregon Food Bank are a very important and a key component to our sustainability program at every level of our company. We are proud to be a part of this partnership and look forward to continuing this for years to come.”
Aside from their donations, River Point Farms continues to support the Oregon Food Bank by connecting with other growers in Oregon to source potatoes, blueberries, corn, and more. The Oregon Food Bank helps nearly one in five households fend off hunger by distributing food from a variety of sources through a statewide network that includes its four branches (in Beaverton, Ontario, Portland and Tillamook), 17 independent regional food banks and approximately 960 partner agencies. These local programs provide food directly to people who are hungry in the form of emergency food boxes, which provide a 3-5 day supply of groceries, hot prepared meals, or supplemental food parcels.
“We are so grateful to be able to partner with such a great company; because of the donations that we received from River Point Farms, CAPECO and the Oregon Food Bank were able to provide fresh produce to over a million food boxes last year,” said Diana Quezada, CAPECO community resource developer. “Without these partnerships, our mission to alleviate hunger would not be possible. Our undertaking to provide fresh and quality produce to families will increase and we are certain that we can count on such a great partner like River Point Farms.”
River Point Farms long history of providing outstanding product quality, service and volume capabilities have strengthened the company and its ability to invest in their local communities. River Point Farms will continue to support the Oregon Food Banks and CAPECO for years to come.
About River Point Farms:
River Point Farms is America’s family-owned, fresh and sustainable grower of onions; including yellow, red, white and sweet onions. The company began in 1983, and then was incorporated in April 2007 after merging the long standing companies of American Onion and Rivergate Farms. River Point Farms is headquartered in Hermiston, Oregon and is controlled by brothers Bob and Rick Hale who also own and operate Hale Farms, 37 year old 20,000 acre diversified vegetable growing operation. River Point Farms is fully integrated, offering a total solution for a diversified customer base. The company’s state-of-the-art growing and storage techniques ensure a year-round supply of whole, peeled and sliced onions to various foodservice, industrial ingredient, restaurant and retail customers. River Point Farms controls the process from seed to shelf, providing the most consistent, reliable onion supply in the country. The company’s unique approach to crop planning takes into account the needs of the customer when designing production, enabling an unparalleled service offering.
Source: River Point Farms