“Let's Fight Hunger Together!” - Hawaii Foodbank

Food Donor Spotlight: Armstrong Produce
T
he children of Yoken and Ushi
Teruya remember harvesting
cabbage and string beans at a young
age, to help on the family farm. It
was in the 1920s and 1930s that the
first generation of Teruyas started as
truck farmers in Kailua. As a means
to support a family of nine, the
Teruyas began to buy and sell
produce from neighboring farms,
which evolved into a small wholesale
operation on River Street.
Expanding over the next seven
decades, Armstrong Produce has
grown into the largest wholesale
produce company in the state. Today,
the third generation of Teruyas
manages three operations on Oahu, Kona
and Kula Produce in Maui. Always
remembering his roots, Mark Teruya,
Chairman and CEO, hopes to continue that
strong “sense of family” while keeping the
company in the forefront of a dynamic
industry.
In addition, the company philosophy of
giving back to the community remains
unchanged. Community involvement is part
of how business is done at Armstrong
Produce.
Each year, Armstrong Produce makes
regular donations to nonprofit organizations
throughout the state. Weekly produce
donations to the Hawaii Foodbank and
ongoing collaborative efforts with the
Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation are
but a few examples. Last year,
Armstrong Produce donated 151,437
pounds of produce to the Hawaii
Foodbank Ohana Produce Program
helping to feed people in 23
communities across Oahu. Armstrong
also assists the Hawaii Foodbank with
the annual National Association of
Letters Carriers Food Drive. Every
year, a truck and driver are sent to
help transport food donations from
Oahu post offices to the Hawaii
Foodbank warehouse.
WONG FOUNDATION FOOD DROP OFF AREA
D
ecember 10, 2009 — The
students and parents at Punahou
School delivered 5,836 pounds of
food collected through their annual
school wide canned food drive. The
Luke Center for Public Service and
the Punahou Chapel coordinated the
drive during the months of October
and November 2009. The focus of the
drive was to raise awareness of
hunger and homelessness in Hawaii.
Teachers and faculty encouraged
students to talk about these issues in
class and chapel, taking into
consideration the history, cause,
scope and impact on individuals,
communities and themselves.
Kelvin Shigemura, Vice President and Mark Teruya, Chairman and CEO of
Armstrong Produce.
Armstrong management also
contributes hours of volunteer
work to various nonprofit
organizations. Mark Teruya is
a board director for the
Rehabilitation Hospital of the
Pacific Foundation and Vice
President Kelvin Shigemura
serves on the board for Special
Olympics Hawaii and the
Hawaii Food Industry
Association (HFIA).
In 2008, Armstrong Produce
was presented with the
Business of the Year Award by
the Japanese Cultural Center
of Hawaii.
“Ever since I joined the Foodbank team, one
of my main focuses was acquiring more fresh
produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are an
important source of nutrition for the families,
seniors, homeless and disabled we serve. We
sincerely appreciate Armstrong Produce’s
support and commitment in feeding Hawaii's
hungry by donating their excess and
unmarketable fruits and vegetables,” said
Mike Kajiwara, Hawaii Foodbank Director
of Product Donations.
Mark Teruya explained his company's
dedication to helping the Foodbank, “As the
need in the community grows, we are
committed to supporting the Foodbank in
their challenge to keep families fed. We are
happy to be a small part of that effort.”
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