Oppy Announces Collaboration With Food Forward; Garland Perkins and Rick Nahmias Comment
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - As with other companies across the fresh produce industry, sustainability has taken a front seat when it comes to strategy, and the same goes for Oppy. In order to support its goals, the supplier announced a new collaboration with Food Forward, the independent urban produce reclamation and upcycling organization, to help upcycle fresh fruits and veg to food-insecure communities while mitigating food waste.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Food Forward, which has supported Oppy in its effort to upcycle product,” said Garland Perkins, Oppy’s Senior Manager of Innovation and Sustainability, who helped develop this collaboration. “This valuable partnership upholds one of our key sustainability focus areas: Ensuring we have solid repurposing programs in place to decrease our overall carbon footprint by mitigating waste.”
Throughout 2022, Food Forward saw a 24 percent increase in produce donations from 2021 via its dedicated partnerships with growers and the wholesale produce industry, according to a release. Since its founding in 2009, the organization has reallocated over 300 million pounds of produce and is continuing to share the benefits of its sustainable operations with allies like Oppy.
Food Forward’s refrigerated warehouse in Bell, California, receives 250,000 pounds of daily donations from the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, its surrounding district, and from growers and shippers across the region and country. Oppy now joins the list of partners helping to make a difference.
“Now in our 14th year, we have served as a leader in the food recovery sphere, establishing a sustainable operation both in scale and reach that has expanded to impact 12 Southern California counties, six neighboring states, and tribal lands,” commented Rick Nahmias, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Food Forward. “Oppy’s expertise and commitment to reducing food waste was a natural alignment to continue to move the needle in our collective mission to eliminate food waste.”
As companies throughout the industry further their commitment to sustainability and fighting food waste, AndNowUKnow will share the latest updates and ideas.
