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Transition Sarasota Receives $10,000 Donation from Enza Zaden Research USA Funds will be used to strengthen the Suncoast Gleaning Project and other programs. Contact Name: Rebecca Brey Contact Email: exec@transitionsrq.org Contact Phone Number: 9202863070 SARASOTA, FL--- Transition Sarasota, a local nonprofit focused on connecting recovered food with our food-insecure neighbors, is delighted to announce a charitable contribution in the amount of $10,000 from partner Enza Zaden Research USA to help build program capacity and increase local impact. This commitment follows the company’s collaboration with Transition Sarasota to harvest and donate their locally grown produce to The Food Bank of Manatee and All Faiths Food Bank, putting fresh fruits and vegetables in the hands of diverse communities in need. Transition Sarasota’s Suncoast Gleaning Project has been gleaning (collecting leftover produce after commercial harvest is complete) from partner Enza Zaden on and off since 2015, however changes in the community have now made Enza Zaden their current largest partner. In the last 15 months, Transition Sarasota has rescued and donated over 74,000 pounds of fresh produce with Enza Zaden’s help. “I’m blown away and so incredibly thankful for our ongoing partnership with Enza Zaden; They’ve been incredibly supportive of the work that we do, and I look forward to growing our efforts to tackle local hunger and food waste with this generous donation,” says Rebecca Brey, Executive Director for Transition Sarasota. Nationwide, food waste is estimated at 40% within the current food system. Meanwhile, 1 in 9 people and 1 in 5 children do not know where their next meal is coming from. Strengthening our local food system and reducing local waste conserves and values the precious resources it takes to get our food to each table. The connections created through local food build resilience in our community and allow us to rebound more quickly when faced with a crisis. Everyone can play a role in closing the loop on food waste. About Transition Sarasota--Transition Sarasota is a Sarasota-based nonprofit that is dedicated to creating food and economic security by supporting local, sustainable sources in the hopes of creating a thriving community now and for future generations. Transition Sarasota’s signature initiatives are the Annual Eat Local Week and the Suncoast Gleaning Project, which organizes volunteers to harvest excess produce from area farm partners and donate it to local food banks. The Suncoast Gleaning Project has provided more than 351,000 pounds of fresh produce to our community’s hungry families since the program launched in 2010. Learn more at: www.TransitionSarasota.org About Enza Zaden Research USA-- Enza Zaden is an international vegetable seed company. They develop new varieties that are grown, sold and consumed all over the world. Enza Zaden is fully aware of the fact that a company can be successful only if it operates in close harmony with society and the environment. Managing Director Jaap Mazereeuw: “Our company has an international CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) policy that rests on three pillars. Sustainable entrepreneurship, which includes developing resistant varieties, is part and parcel of our profession; it’s in our DNA.” For more information please visit: https://www.enzazaden.com/us