Fyffes today reveals that it has provided more than 24 million healthy meals to countries in Europe, Latin America and North America.
In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption and Production, Fyffes made a commitment to helping build a world that is food secure, free of hunger, and where food loss is avoided. The company set a target of providing five million healthy meals to vulnerable communities by the end of 2025 and has exceeded this ahead of time and by a factor of four.
The US topped the table of donations with over 10.5 million meals, closely followed by the UK at over 10 million meals. Ireland and Germany where also high on the list with over 1 million (1,1175,798) and 969,048 meals respectively. Over 1.5 million meals have been provided in Latin America.
COUNTRY MEALS DONATED
Belize 118,562
Costa Rica 11,905
Ecuador 55,941
Germany 969,048
Guatemala 900,495
Honduras 573,810
Ireland 1,175,798
UK 10,192,773
US 10,561,101
24,559,921 TOTAL
A third of all food produced is wasted, representing about 8% of global greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the demand for food bank services has increased globally due to inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis.
Through partnerships with customers and for-purpose organisations, Fyffes donates fresh bananas, pineapples and melons to food banks who then help to minimise food waste by redistributing the surplus fruit to those charities and communities that are most in need.
Organisations that Fyffes partners with include: FoodCloud and Cream of the Crop in Ireland; FareShare and The Bread and Butter Thing in the UK; Hamburger Tafel in Germany, and Philabundance, Armfull of Help and San Antonio food bank in the US.
Throughout Latin America, where Fyffes grows its fruit, the company works with a wide range of food banks, including The Global Foodbanking Network. Fyffes also works with local communities and organisations in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Ecuador to provide access to healthy food.
Projects in Honduras, for example, to reduce the amount of fruit left behind in the field and redistribute it to vulnerable communities, have donated more than half a million meals.
Commenting, Helge Sparsoe, CEO of Fyffes said:
“We are extremely proud to share that we have surpassed our target of donating five million healthy meals to people in vulnerable groups. The achievement of this target means even more in the current global cost of-living crisis where the demand for food banks has increased exponentially. Donating over 24 million meals is a wonderful demonstration of sustainability in action and we look forward to reaching even more communities in 2025.”
