Happy 2026 to our readers! This is indeed a special year (still without resolutions) as our country begins celebrating its Semiquincentennial or Bisesquicentennial, whichever you choose. Either way, it is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Philadelphia is front and center of this yearlong celebration, of course, and the city expects more than a billion dollars of tourism revenue to impact its economy. Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, BBC Travel and Architectural Digest have Philly on their shortlist of places all around the world to travel to in 2026. There will be many celebratory and educational things to do throughout the year, one of which is the 197th Philadelphia Flower Show, February 28 to March 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The theme is aptly titled “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.” A yearlong group of events, 52 weeks of Philly Firsts where something happened here before it happened anywhere else, will be celebrated each week. From the first hospital in the country to the first ice cream soda, Philly has been a leader in so many ways! For more information, go to visitphilly.com/52-weeks-of-firsts.com. See you on Independence Mall!
So, the holidays are over, and we are back to our routines, planning vacations, home renovations and the like. As always, the big focus on giving back has been forgotten, giving food donations to non-profits in November and December so the underserved could enjoy a holiday meal have long left our thoughts. However, food insecurity happens all year long.
Sharing Excess, another Philly First, recently announced their numbers for 2025, and they are over the top. Their goal for 2025 was to rescue 100 million pounds of food. They beat that goal by 3 million pounds. They partnered with the first lady of Bogota and now are helping her feed hundreds of thousands of children in Colombia thanks to their friend Tony Robbins. They responded to the LA wildfires, which led to expansion into California in a big way. In addition to operations at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market and Hunts Point in the Bronx, Sharing Excess opened a third wholesale operation in Detroit. They introduced tax credits, hosted 133 pop-ups, rescued food from 700 businesses, and made over 25,000 deliveries to 1,300 incredible nonprofit organizations all over the United States. Over 550 different types of food were distributed, basically every type of produce. And the rescued food reached over 8 million people across 32 states, four countries, and 430 zip codes thanks to their current incredible team of 70 employees and over 1,400 volunteers.
What’s next for Sharing Excess? They’re launching a secret pilot (shhh!) in a fourth major city that we’ll hear about soon. I encourage you to help Sharing Excess reach even more food insecure people in any way you can. Visit sharingexcess.com to see what works for you or your organization. Good job, SE!
One of our generous retailers who knows how food insecurity wreaks havoc on children’s lives, The Giant Company (TGC), announced the return of its annual Feeding School Kids initiative on January 6. Marking its sixth year, customers at Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market stores will be invited to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar or convert their Cjoice points into a donation for their local public school districts’ food programs through March 31.
“Through our Feeding School Kids initiative, we are directly impacting school food programs in the communities we serve, and ensuring children can remain focused on their academics, and not where their next meal may come from,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager, community relations and strategic partnerships, TGC. “Together with our customers and team members we have donated more than $8.5 million to date to help schools earn critical funds to address food insecurity among their students.”
Through Feeding School Kids, public school districts have been able to support meal programs and address food insecurity from supplying backpacks with weekend food to clearing outstanding student lunch debt to building on-campus food pantries and establishing garden programs.
In 2025, for example: the Central Bucks School District used funds to support its student-managed Farmers Market, which serves 200 families each month, by purchasing vertical hydroponic gardening equipment; the State College School District directed funding to cover student lunch debt and to rent a mobile refrigeration unit for its summer lunch program, serving nearly 7,000 meals; and the York Suburban School District used funds to cover food expenses for its Impact Pantry for one year, serving 70 families twice a month.
“We are so incredibly grateful for the donation from The Giant Company,” said Elise Stine Dolinar, Bright Futures coordinator, Frederick County School District. “It is our single largest gift we receive each year. Without their support, we could not do our work of feeding 1,500 kids a week.”
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, state and federal officials, agriculture leaders, and thousands of visitors gathered in Harrisburg on January 10 for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show – Pennsylvania State Fair, officially kicking off the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition. Spanning one million square feet, with nearly 6,000 animals, 12,000-plus competitive exhibits, and more than 250 commercial exhibits, the Farm Show brings people from all walks of life to enjoy and learn about agriculture in Pennsylvania. The ceremony celebrated Pennsylvania’s rich farming heritage, honored the farmers and families who sustain it, and highlighted agriculture’s enduring role in shaping the Commonwealth’s economy, communities, and future.
“Today, we celebrate an enduring symbol,” Secretary Redding said. “One not stitched in fabric, but from soil and sweat, from orchards and barns, from classrooms and city gardens, from the hands and hearts of people who care and persevere and believe in the promise of tomorrow. Today, we celebrate agriculture’s role in ‘Growing a Nation’.” It celebrates Pennsylvania’s critical role in shaping the United States through agriculture. The 2026 Farm Show is also the official kickoff of America250PA commemorations, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. America250PA celebrates Pennsylvania’s pivotal place in U.S. history as one of the original 13 colonies and its contributions to the nation’s founding, democratic traditions, and future prosperity. It highlights how the Commonwealth’s farming heritage helped feed the early nation and continues to drive economic growth, innovation, and community through its agriculture and food industries.
Many exhibitors in the Market section were PA Preferred, which is Pennsylvania’s brand for locally grown and processed food, beverages and other agricultural products like hardwoods. Buying products with the PA Preferred yellow and blue logo assures that the purchase keeps dollars at home, supporting Pennsylvania farmers and building a stronger local economy.
One of the highlights of the show is the 1,000-pound butter sculpture featured in the Main Hall. Butter sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton and dairy farmer Carolyn Eaglehouse of Milky Way Farm were on hand as Secretary Redding unveiled the sculpture. This year’s sculpture is titled “A Toast to Our Nation’s 250th Anniversary: Inspired by Founders. Grown by Farmers.” The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, American Dairy Association North East, and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program sponsored the sculpture. It’s a must do at least once and a good time is always had by everyone who attends!
Taking another trip around the sun this January are: Linda Doherty, NJFC; Eve Gigis, Acme Markets; David Patragnoni, Silver Fern Farms; George Latella, Saint Joseph’s University; Loree Jones Brown, Philabundance; Tim Musgrove, Herr Foods; and our Food Trade News alumni Meg Major, Bob Ingram, Scott Lichterman and Karen Fernandez. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “You can get excited about the future. The past won’t mind.” Hillary DiPiano
Maria can be reached at [email protected] or 443.631.0172
