IFPA joins White House for annual Hallo-READ celebration, treats guests to thousands of pounds of fresh produce, pumpkins and flowers

October 30, 2024

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is proud to provide thousands of pumpkins, apples, baby carrots, and vibrant mums for the annual White House Halloween festivities, hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

As part of today’s White House “Hallo-READ!” event, more than 8,000 local public-school students and military-connected children will gather on the White House South Lawn for an exciting afternoon of trick-or-treating. Participants and their families will receive seasonal mini pumpkins, and apples and baby carrots for healthy snacks provided by IFPA members. In addition to treats, IFPA is adding to the celebration’s festive fall atmosphere with thousands of pumpkins and flowers sourced from farms across the U.S.

IFPA’s support includes Sarah’s Homegrown® Heirloom, Jack O’Lantern and mini pumpkins from Frey Farms with farms throughout the Midwest and Southeast, whole apples from Yes! Apples in Glenmont, N.Y., snack-sized bags of baby carrots from Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield, Calif., and vibrant mums from Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, N.C., to add fresh floral décor throughout the South Lawn. Keany Produce & Gourmet in Landover, Md., is providing wholesale-distributor services for IFPA’s fresh produce donations.

“IFPA is honored to take part in the cherished tradition of Halloween at the White House. This celebration is a fantastic opportunity to showcase fresh, healthy treats and highlight the abundance of U.S. grown produce by our member companies,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “Featuring fresh produce in our nation’s capital underscores the vital role the produce industry plays in every community and is central to our mission to remove barriers to healthful eating by expanding access to fresh produce wherever children live, learn, and play. The White House provides a perfect setting to advance this goal, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this joyful event.”

The celebration of fresh continues after the trick-or-treat festivities after the White House event when IFPA will donate Frey Farms pumpkins to DC Central Kitchen, a renowned nonprofit and social enterprise dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty through job training and providing nutritious food where it is needed most. These pumpkins will be used in holiday meals distributed to the local community.

“From the White House to your house, and every household in between, our industry is at the table providing nourishment and wellness with healthy food and beautiful flowers. We are proud to collaborate with DC Central Kitchen to serve our D.C. neighbors delicious holiday meals while ensuring none of our beautiful products go to waste,” said Burns.

IFPA will share updates on the journey of these donations on freshproduce.com and across its social media platforms.

IFPA joins White House for annual Hallo-READ celebration, treats guests to thousands of pounds of fresh produce, pumpkins and flowers

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