In an ongoing effort to raise awareness of the issue of food insecurity, family-owned and California-based Foster Farms today donated 2,000 pounds of turkey – enough to feed more than 2,000 people – to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties in San Jose during a “Farm to Food Bank” event hosted by California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross. Ross was in the Bay Area at the San Jose food bank as part of a day-long series of events to raise awareness of California’s “Farm to Family” Program and the important role California producers also play in the state’s fight against hunger.

This recent donation tops off a series of Foster Farms Thanksgiving turkey donations to West Coast food banks that have fed more than 84,000 people during the recent holiday. It is the latest initiative in Foster Farms’ ongoing commitment to hunger relief and to giving back to its local communities. In 2014, the company has also provided 24,000 complete chicken dinners to needy families and delivered more than 230,000 pounds of groceries to Central Valley elementary students through the Foster Farms-sponsored Food 4 Thought program. As the title sponsor of the Foster Farms Bowl to be held at Levi’s Stadium December 30, Foster Farms carries on this important tradition of helping local families in need with ticket sales directly benefiting local food banks.

“No communities are immune from hunger, even in the affluent Bay Area,” said Foster Farms Director of Communications Ira Brill. “We hope that Foster Farms’ contributions can help continue to bring awareness to the need here and to encourage other California producers, companies and individuals to join in the fight against hunger.”

The “Farm to Family” Program was created by the California Association of Food Banks with the express goal of connecting California food growers and packers to food banks, so that California’s three million residents at risk of hunger may get access to fresh produce and fresh foods, thereby promoting delicious and healthy eating, stronger ties to the land and our neighbors, pride in homegrown products and a healthier California economy.

Source: Foster Farms