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Grower shares the wealth

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By EMILIE PLANTS

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2009

PLANT CITY - Ag-Mart Produce, a local tomato grower and shipper, has been planting another kind of seed: ones to benefit humanity.

The Plant City business has donated 1,767 pounds of non-perishable food, and a check for $221, to help the United Food Bank in Plant City.
Kelleigh Klein, Plant City's United Food Bank executive director, sees the contribution as a way to provide hope for those struggling in the community.

"Their efforts and the many people and organizations like them help make the critical difference for those less fortunate to have an opportunity for self-empowerment," Klein said.

The food drive began as an Ag-Mart corporate initiative to create a mindset of social responsibility for its employees.

Beth Chavez, Ag-Mart's senior human resources manager, led the food drive.

Chavez was pleased Ag-Mart employees joined together to bring goodwill to others.

"Every person in this office made a contribution and came together for an important cause in an impressive way," she said.

"Besides feeling good for our efforts to help the community, the effort was a great team-building exercise that brought us closer and helped us keep our work in perspective."

Ag-Mart's benevolence to the Plant City food bank will aid many people in east Hillsborough County.

"We thank Beth Chavez and the employees of Ag-Mart Produce for rallying together in support of the essential activities taking place at the United Food Bank every day," Klein said.

Ag-Mart Produce (www.agmartproduce .com), is a grower and shipper of both organic and conventional tomatoes, specializing mainly in the grape and heirloom varieties. It operates in multiple growing regions, including three in Florida.

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