INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Once again, local citrus growers and packers made a significant contribution to the community wide work of United Way of Indian River County.
The 16th annual Holiday Citrus Sale raised $25,000, the largest amount raised by this event to date, even though event logistics changed this year and all orders were placed at the United Way Center over a two week period in November.
Rusty Banack, Quality Fruit Packers, and Scott Lambeth, Golden River Fruit Company, have organized and executed this annual sale since its founding.
“We’ve found this to be a great way for the agricultural community to give back”, said Lambeth.
Naval Oranges and Ruby Red Grapefruit were donated to fill over 800 orders from local folks sending the fruit to friends and family.
Local growers and packers involved include: Fellsmere Farms, Green River Packing, Golden River Fruit Company, Hogan & Sons, IMG Citrus, Indian River Exchange Packers, LeRoy Smith, Oslo Citrus Growers Association, Premier Citrus Packers, The Packers of Indian River, Quality Fruit Packers of Indian River, Riverfront Groves, and United Indian River Packers.
“We are all aware of people in need in this community and are happy to join in and do our part,” Banack added.
“We have so many return buyers at this sale. Our snowbirds, especially, like to share some Florida sunshine with their loved ones. We can’t thank our agricultural community enough,” explained United Way’s Faith Frazier.
Banack and Lambeth are also organizing the 27th Annual United Way Citrus Golf Tournament, which will be held Saturday, March 2, at the Vero Beach Country Club.
Sponsorships are available. Please call Faith at (772) 567-8900, ext. 12, for more information.
United Way of Indian River County is encouraging people in the community to LIVE UNITED by giving to the annual campaign, helping spread the word about programs and services that help people in need, and volunteering their time and talent to a local cause.
For more information on how you can LIVE UNITED and help create a brighter future for those in need in our community, please call (772) 567-8900 or visit our website www.UnitedWayIRC.org.