San Francisco CA— The Specialty Food Association (SFA) Winter Fancy Food Show ran from January 19-21 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, and featured more than 1,400 companies from around the world showcasing 80,000 products. The final day of the show ended on a note of generosity as exhibitors donated their surplus specialty food to the Specialty Food Foundation, which partnered with Food Recovery Network to properly recover and donate the items to San Francisco nonprofit organizations.
This year, 125 Food Recovery Network volunteers collected 35,500 pounds of meat, cheese, specialty groceries, beverages, confections, and snacks, topping last year’s record for the single largest one-day food recovery operation in Food Recovery Network history. Once the Food Recovery Network team and their volunteers packed everything up, it was transferred to two organizations in the Bay Area:

• Delancey Street Foundation, a nonprofit focused on residential rehabilitation services and vocational training, including a culinary arts program who will expand its skills with this food.
• Sanctuary Shelter, a part of Episcopal Community Services, a 24-hour facility that provides emergency shelter to homeless adults, many of whom are seniors.

“Combating hunger through food recovery is a longstanding endeavor for our organization,” said Ron Tanner, vice president of philanthropy, government, and industry relations for the Specialty Food Association. “Food Recovery Network is a natural partner and highlights the relevance of community involvement for the specialty food industry.”
“Food Recovery Network’s biggest recovery in our history is symbolic for a number of reasons,” says Regina Anderson of Food Recovery Network. “First, support from the vendors and volunteers grows bigger each year, and that means behavior is changing from food waste to food recovery as the standard. Second, our partnership with the Specialty Food Association is critical in combating food waste on an immediate large scale. Third, this recovered food will feed the residents of Delancey Street Foundation for months, as well as allow them the dignity and respect of stomachs full of vibrant food.”
The SFA is busy planning ahead for the upcoming year and will be opening nominations mid- to late February to SFA members who wish to volunteer for the Specialty Food Association Board, Specialty Food Foundation Board, SFA Committees, and SFA Industry Work Groups.

About the Specialty Food Association

Founded in 1952 in New York City, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) is the leading advocate for the $148.7 billion specialty food industry. Representing makers, importers, entrepreneurs, retailers, distributors and others in the trade, the SFA aims to champion, nurture and connect its members to deliver traditional and innovative new products to consumers that expand consumption of specialty foods. With over 3,800 member companies, the Association helps its members through providing information, research, educational events, and celebrating the industry through its awards programs. The SFA is known for hosting the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, and presents the sofi™ Awards honoring excellence in specialty food. Learn more at specialtyfood.com.

About Food Recovery Network

Food Recovery Network (FRN) unites and supports college student leaders in the fight against food waste and hunger in America. Since 2011, FRN students have recovered 4 million pounds of surplus food that would otherwise go to waste from their campus cafeterias and local restaurants to donate to hungry Americans. Food Recovery Network has more than 200 college campus chapters in 44 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about Food Recovery Network, visit www.foodrecoverynetwork.org.