A semi-truckload of fresh grapefruit was delivered to Emergency Foodshelf Network (EFN) last week. "We’re all very excited," said Ted Evans, communications coordinator (pictured left).

The grapefruit delivery is part of Lost Harvest, a United Way supported program, in which over one million pounds of Mexican-grown fruit and vegetables will be rescued and delivered to hungry Minnesotans this year. The grapefruit travels from the USDA check-point in Nogales, Arizona, and costs about $4,000 to transport—a small price for almost $90,000 worth of fresh produce.

Produce is shipped into Nogales and is USDA inspected. Time-consuming inspections and overabundant produce causes distributors to make room for the freshest shipment by dumping perfectly good food into landfills. Through Lost Harvest, EFN partners with the Food Providers of America, who rescues produce directly from growers and partners with agencies like EFN to redistribute the produce to those in need.

Shipping multiple produce items at the same time can be tricky. Watermelon and tomatoes require different refrigeration temperatures, for example, but the payoff is worth it. "Our partner agencies love being able to offer fresh produce to their [foodshelf] clients," said Ted, "it’s a nice treat, especially in the winter."

One goal of United Way's Agenda for Lasting Change is reducing hunger 20 percent by 2009 and we’re making significant progress. In 2007, thanks to hunger relief partners like Emergency Foodshelf Network, we tripled our goal—over 4.8 million additional pounds of food were raised by our food banks and other United Way-invested initiatives.

• Read more Success Stories.