Philadelphia Produce Market Wins Food Waste Challenge

Philadelphia Produce Market Wins Food Waste Challenge

phillymktphotoBy the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market

Philadelphia — The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) was proud to accept an award for being the winning terminal market in the USDA’s Terminal Market U.S. Food Waste Challenge.  Dan Kane, General Manager, and Christine Hofmann, Marketing Coordinator, accepted the award in Washington, DC , recently on behalf of the PWPM.

“We are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for our efforts to reduce waste, said Sonny DiCrecchio, President & CEO of PWPM.  “We are most proud of our donations to hunger-relief organizations throughout Philadelphia.”

Supporting the USDA Food Waste Challenge, the National Association of Produce Market Managers encouraged its membership to divert fruit and vegetables from the waste stream, either through recycling (composting/animal feed) or by donating produce to food rescue programs.  The Challenge ran from March 29, 2016 through June 30, 2016 and was based on the number of businesses within the PWPM that participated.  “We are fully committed to increasing our numbers next year,” said DiCrecchio.  “We’re always reviewing our methods on how to reduce our footprint on the environment and donate wholesome produce to people in need.”

About the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market:

The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market is the world’s largest, fully enclosed, fully refrigerated wholesale produce market.  Completed in 2011, the 686,000 square foot facility is ¼ mile long and provides customers with security, comfort, efficiency, and cold chain protection.  The PWPM is made up of 22 fresh fruit and vegetable merchants who carry a full range of produce including local, ethnic, specialty and commodities. The Market is open to the public and serves all types produce buyers from the home cook to national supermarket chains from Florida to Canada.

Customers range from Florida to Canada. Most come from within a 150-mile radius of Philadelphia.  PWPM receives and sells hundreds of truckloads of fresh produce on a weekly basis, leading to cumulative annual sales of one billion dollars.

Find out more at www.pwpm.net