FirstFruits Marketing Receives Award

FirstFruits Marketing of Washington, LLC was recognized by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) as one of seven Washington employers, and the only in the produce category, that have demonstrated their commitment to community service. AWB’s annual Community Service Awards recognize member companies of all sizes and types across the state of Washington for their contributions and volunteerism that makes their communities better places to live and work. FirstFruits Marketing was recognized in the “Helping People in Need” category at the awards dinner in Spokane, Wash., on June 11, 2012. “It was an honor to be recognized by AWB; our company mission directs us to help improve the lives of the less fortunate,” says Keith Mathews, CEO of FirstFruits Marketing of Washington. “But it’s not just the company mission, we employees personally believe in supporting others to improve their situations and starting in our own community is just the right thing to do.” [caption id="attachment_10821" align="alignright" width="305" caption="(left to right): Chuck Zeutenhorst, sales executive; Cynthia Leon, western government relations regional manager; Naomi Lule, CFO; Keith Mathews, CEO"][/caption] FirstFruits Marketing of Washington understands the importance of education and funds many worthy initiatives with the first 10 percent of its annual profits. Since 2009, FirstFruits has donated substantially to a local Union Gospel Mission to provide after-school training to students in the poorer sections of Yakima. The group supports Yakima-area chapters of Young Life and Young Lives in their efforts to prevent student drug abuse and support teen moms to complete their education and personal development. FirstFruits also supports Jubilee Youth Ranch, a privately funded high school that supports 50 high school boys from troubled backgrounds to graduation and beyond. In addition to its support for education, FirstFruits generously funds disaster relief at home and abroad and donates in-kind gifts to fight hunger in Washington state as a priority. This July FirstFruits is taking a new role in international relief by sending three employees to begin building a new agricultural community in Honduras. “Our changing economy underscored the importance of volunteerism and community service. The seven member companies we honor tonight have answered that call, providing valuable time and resources to those in need,” says AWB President Don Brunell. “These awards celebrate the dedication of each of these companies to community service. They also honor the hard work of their employees, who have made a commitment to giving back in the communities where they work and live.”