Editor's Letter: Philanthropic Pride

View the November 2011 Specialty Food Magazine

Recently, I attended the second annual Art of Farming event at Sotheby’s in Manhattan. This reception and auction provides a platform for local farmers, purveyors, chefs and suppliers to support local agriculture and sustainable food options for New Yorkers. In addition to area chefs preparing the evening’s food, local specialty food companies such as Rick’s Picks and SchoolHouse Kitchen helped sponsor the event.

Proceeds benefited two organizations devoted to encouraging healthy-food education. The first group, GrowNYC, hopes to create the next generation of farmers and food advocates through Greenmarkets and school and community gardens. The second, the Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farms, inspires children to eat well through hands-on experiences at the farm, in school and in community centers all over New York City. While listening to a presentation about the impact of such programs, I was struck by the importance and influence of what the specialty food industry accomplishes. The products we create and sell often have far-reaching effects on communities around the globe. In some cases the impact is due to socially conscious ingredient-sourcing that helps farmers and growers support themselves and brings employment opportunities to underserved regions. In others, the effect can be found through the industry’s support of nutrition and food-education endeavors or raising money for charities.

This positive impact is a point that many consumers shortchange when they view such offerings as pricey products that are luxuries rather than necessities. But even members of the trade itself may not be fully aware of the impact we make overall.

Here are just a handful of efforts from across the supply chain that have occurred in recent months:

• This summer Whole Foods Market debuted its Whole Kids Foundation, which partners with schools, educators and organizations to provide children with access to healthful food choices. The Foundation’s first initiative is the Whole Kids Garden Grant Project, which is working to launch gardening projects in schools.
• In the wake of damage Hurricane Irene caused along the east coast, on September 25 participating New York City restaurants donated up to 10 percent of their sales to GrowNYC and Just Food, a nonprofit connecting local farmers to neighborhoods seeking fresh, sustainable foods. Proceeds benefited area farmers hit hard by the storm.
• To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, several specialty food companies released specially branded products and donated profits to organizations that support research for this disease. (Ten such companies are featured on foodspring.com’s recent Breast Cancer Awareness story)

You can read about five more efforts beginning on p. 32 in our annual feature on companies that are giving back. This year we showcase specialty food businesses that have created jobs for poverty-stricken people in Kenya and the Middle East as well as those that support causes closer to home, such as Native American culture and historic preservation.

Our philanthropic spirit is something we as an industry should take pride in and promote. We want to help highlight these efforts on an ongoing basis year-round to the trade and consumers. Please visit specialtyfood.com/onlinehighlights to tell us how your company is supporting charitable causes or effecting change. |SFM|

By Denise Purcell
Editor, Specialty Food Magazine
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