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SK Foods Delivers Huge Donation to Alameda County Community Food Bank

Posted on: Monday, 16 June 2008, 18:00 CDT

The Alameda County Community Food Bank today received a truckload of nearly 70,000 cans of diced tomatoes from SK Foods as part of one of the largest donations to food banks in California history. The Alameda County Community Food Bank, which serves 40,000 low-income Alameda County residents each week, received in total 5,780 cases from SK Foods, one of the world's leading processors of tomato products.

"We are very grateful to receive such a versatile, shelf-stable product," said Suzan Bateson, executive director of the Alameda County Community Food Bank. "Diced, cooked tomatoes can be used in a variety of dishes, and are perfect with pasta. A donation of this size can provide for more than 100,000 servings."

Statewide, SK Foods is donating close to one million 15 oz. cans of diced tomatoes to help replenish supplies at California food banks, diminishing due to the rising costs of food and fuel. The retail value of the donation is well over $1 million.

The SK Foods donation constitutes one of the five largest food bank donations in the state's history, according to Bill Foltz, food solicitor for Second Harvest Food Bank, who is helping to coordinate distribution of the diced tomatoes. "It's a great product and has such versatility to it. This outstanding donation comes at a time when our food banks are scrambling desperately for donations," explained Foltz.

Deliveries to food banks began June 5th, with a truck dropping off approximately 35,000 cans of tomatoes to the San Francisco Food Bank. The Food Bank for Monterey County, where SK Foods is based, received its first truckload of canned tomatoes June 9th, and FoodLink for Tulare County received a delivery of 2,900 cases on June 12th. Additional deliveries are planned this month at food banks in Fresno, Redwood Empire (in Santa Rosa), San Joaquin (in Manteca) and Watsonville. SK Foods is providing all transportation and covering freight costs, a tremendous added value to the food banks.

"The world food shortages are right here in our backyard," said SK Foods Chief Executive Officer Scott Salyer. "We hope other food companies will follow our lead and help the food banks." SK Foods, based in Monterey, California, is owned and operated by the Salyer family, which has successfully farmed diversified crops on a large scale in California's Central Valley since the early 1900s.

About the Alameda County Food Bank

Since 1985, the Alameda County Food Bank has helped people alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food and nutrition education to people in need, educating the public, and promoting public policies that address hunger and its root causes. Through a network of 300 community based organizations, including food pantries and soup kitchens, the Food Bank provides food assistance to 40,000 people each week. For more information please visit www.accfb.org.

About SK Foods

SK Foods is one of the world's leading processors of tomato and vegetable products for re-manufacturers, retail and foodservice marketers. Established in 1990, SK Foods is part of the SK Foods Group of companies, with headquarters in Monterey, California, and processing facilities at locations in California, New Zealand, and Australia. For more information please visit www.skfoods.com.

Source: Business Wire

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