The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., owner of the Winter Fancy Food Show now underway in San Francisco, recognizes the dimension of the tragedy in Haiti and the dire need for food.

‘We encourage our exhibitors and members of our trade association to continue their long tradition of assisting people in need by responding to the humanitarian crisis,’ says Ann Daw, president of the NASFT.

Meanwhile, the Winter Fancy Food Show plans to keep its commitment to donate more than 100,000 pounds of specialty food and beverages to Bay Area residents in need. The donation will be made at the close of the trade event on Tuesday, Jan. 19. For the second year, the NASFT has been working with Feed the Hungry, an international hunger relief organization, to organize the donation and deploy the food to a network of local anti-hunger programs.

‘We have promised local agencies that the food given to Feed the Hungry after the show will remain in the greater San Francisco area and we desire to keep our word,’ says David Flowers of Feed the Hungry, who is managing the Fancy Food Show donation.

Feed the Hungry responds to large international and US disasters. Stefan Radelich, its executive director, has cancelled plans to be at the Fancy Food Show to turn his full attention to the tragedy in Haiti.

The NASFT is encouraging its members and others in the $60 billion specialty food industry to support relief efforts in Haiti. Reports are stating that donations of money are the best way to help. Here are some organizations that are collecting funds.

â‹… Oxfam
â‹… United Nations’ World Food Programme
â‹… World Water Relief
â‹… Action Against Hunger

The NASFT was established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,900 members in the U.S. and abroad. For further information on the NASFTand its Fancy Food Shows, go to www.specialtyfood.com.