Expanding Our Cold Storage: A Commitment to Healthier Food Options
In mid-2020, we embarked on a significant expansion of our cold storage capacity, a move that has had a remarkable impact on our operations and the services we provide to the community. The expansion was prompted by a combination of factors, including the increasing volumes of fresh produce we were receiving and our renewed focus on offering healthier food options to our clients.
Before this expansion, our ability to store large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables was limited, which constrained our efforts to meet the growing demand for nutritious food. Recognizing this, we more than doubled our cooler and freezer capacity, an investment that has transformed how we operate.
With the increased storage space, we now have the flexibility to acquire and receive significantly more fresh produce. In 2023, we distributed over 2.5 million pounds of fruits and vegetables across our service area.
This has allowed us to diversify the food we offer, providing healthier options to the neighbors we serve. Additionally, the enhanced storage capacity means we can more readily accept large volume donations of produce from local farmers.
Improving our cold storage capacity enhanced our ability to respond to the community’s needs. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the demand for food assistance surged, and the expansion enabled us to handle the additional volumes of food that were part of the pandemic response efforts.
The cold storage expansion has also opened new opportunities for us. With the ability to store tractor-trailer loads of fresh produce, we are now better equipped to plan and manage our inventory, ensuring we have a steady supply of healthy food for distribution.
This expansion has strengthened our partnerships with local farmers and other food donors as well. By being able to accept and store larger donations, we have reinforced our role as a reliable partner in the food supply chain, helping to reduce food waste while ensuring that fresh, nutritious food reaches those who need it most.
Looking ahead, we anticipate distributing over 2.8 million pounds of fresh produce by the end of 2024 – an increase of 68% from 2021. Investing in our cold storage capacity enables us to fulfill our mission of nourishing our community with fresh, healthy food.
Meet the Team – Ariane Dent
