Caribbean Produce Exchange ships 107,000 pounds of products from Puerto Rico to Houston and the Virgin Islands

Caribbean Produce Exchange, Inc. (CPE), a local company that distributes fresh food and consumer products, donated four containers with 107,000 pounds of products to help Texas Hispanic communities affected by recent winter storms, as well as hundreds of families in the Virgin Islands Americans who continue to face food and economic challenges due to the COVID pandemic 19.

The donation is part of CPE’s social responsibility and solidarity commitment platform, whose business purpose since 1960 has been based on nurturing well-being. Foods include dairy products from Indulac and other local businesses, as well as beef and chicken protein to provide them with senior citizens and low-income families through an alliance with the nonprofit. Catholic Charities, in both jurisdictions.

“A year after the COVID-19 pandemic and after the impact of the winter storms that hit the state of Texas, we wanted to bring solidarity support to Houston, a city that has a growing port community. In the same way, we received information from families facing nutritional insecurity among our Caribbean neighbors in the US Virgin Islands and we immediately mobilized to establish an alliance with Catholic Charities, an entity that “It has a network of volunteers in both jurisdictions to distribute aid. The containers are already at their destinations and food deliveries have already begun,” he said. Angel Santiago, president and CEO of the distribution company.

In April 2020, CPE sent to Bronx County, over 16,000 pounds of fresh country produce to alleviate the food crisis within weeks of ordering mass quarantines due to the pandemic. Santiago indicated that the company has always been very active in offering its help and solidarity to families and communities in need in times of emergencies in Puerto Rico and other regions where they can gather food support.

As part of the Federal Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food box project, the company distributed nearly three million boxes of food over the past year and provided support for families affected by the earthquakes in southern and southwestern Puerto Rico with food supplies, labor, mental and emotional health resources, as well as other relief resources during this emergency. In 2017, CPE collaborated with the American Red Cross and FEMA in distributing millions of pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of families affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

“We are grateful for the support of the Caribbean Produce Exchange, which generously donated containers full of food to help Catholic Charities meet the growing demand for food,” Ms. Gna said. Donna Markham, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “Thanks to organizations like CPE, more than 20 million pounds of food have been distributed nationwide. Our local agencies continue to provide food to those most in need in a range of locations selected for mass distribution, as well. such as prepared meals, and emerging canteens to help alleviate hunger and nutritional insecurity for affected citizens and families, ”he added.

The shipping company National Shipping of America, also participated as an ally of CPE and voluntarily contributed the involvement of the containers in Houston in solidarity with this initiative. “We recognize and appreciate CPE’s management of sending and supplying food to families in Texas impacted by the climate emergency that caused urgent situations,” said Torey Presti, president of National Shipping of America (NSA). Presti added, “NSA is honored to have been selected to participate in the transportation and transportation phase of this much-deserved effort for the benefit of Texas residents.”

“We hope that these donations can be of great relief to families and communities in these affected areas, and we thank the local companies that always collaborate with Caribbean Produce to bring progress, nutrition and hope in times of crisis,” added Santiago .