FORT MEADE (Florida) LEADER

February 27, 2010

Peace River Packing helps with ‘Fresh For Ellen’ movement

In support of the “Fresh for Ellen” movement, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, along with their citrus grower Peace River Packing, helped kick off the first week of the fan club’s donations by giving 2,169 pounds of fresh Florida Valencia oranges and Florida honey tangerines on Friday, Feb. 19, to the Redland Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) Child Development Center in Bowling Green.

“Fresh for Ellen” is a group of fans who have been inspired by Ellen DeGeneres’ commitment to cut processed sugar consumption and support it by “shining a light on the countless benefits” of “nature’s candy,” fresh fruits, and vegetables. 

“I’ve committed to Ellen DeGeneres that every time she mentions fresh produce to a public audience, we’ll share fresh produce,” Dan’l Mackey Almy, founder of “Fresh for Ellen” said. “In light of her mention of ‘fresh Florida citrus’ during the Ellen DeGeneres Show last week, we immediately contacted Duda Farm Fresh Foods to help us deliver on our promise.”

“As soon as we heard about the ‘fresh Florida citrus’ mention on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, we immediately moved into action,” Sam Jones, operations manager of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, said.

“We organized our donation near our citrus packing operation in Fort Meade, to share fresh Florida citrus with the RCMA, a local organization who could use the extra vitamin C to help boost immunities for the children that they care for.”

Founded in 1965, RCMA provides quality child care and early education for children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families throughout Florida. As the largest non-profit child-care provider in Florida, RCMA is a leader in high-quality early childhood services.

During every school day, RCMA serves its children two hot, healthy meals – the best nutrition many of them receive.

“Our children are so happy and we are very grateful to receive a donation from Duda Farm Fresh Foods,” Olga L. Ortego’n, early childhood specialist at RCMA said. “This has provided the children with a great opportunity to learn more about nature’s fruits that are grown right here in our very own state and provide us with healthy food to eat.”

Duda Farm Fresh Foods is a major grower, shipper and marketer of fresh citrus and fresh and fresh-cut vegetables with primary locations in Florida, California, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. Duda Farm Fresh Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of DUDA, a family-owned, diversified land company headquartered in Oviedo.

“Fresh for Ellen” is a fan club with a grassroots mission to increase awareness about the wonders and goodness of fresh fruits and vegetables. The fan club encourages consumption of natural sugars as the perfect alternative to processed sugars and strives to give, share and donate fresh produce, in mass and on a personal basis, to get fresh produce in the hands of as many people as possible. In conjunction with National Nutrition Month, “Fresh for Ellen” intends to share 100,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables by March 31.