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March 8, 2022
120: Women's HERstory Month — Creating Meaningful Experiences with Produce
🍏 In honor of Women's HERstory Month, Tracy is excited to introduce Jamie Gonzalez, aka the “Puta De La Fruta," a trailblazer in the produce industry and a significant donor to the San Antonio Food Bank. 🌱 With over 15 years of experience in produce distribution, Jamie's journey is a testament to resilience and community-focused innovation.
In 2021, when this episode was recorded and since 2020, Jamie had partnered with over 50 organizations to distribute more than 3 million pounds of food. With the mantras “Everybody Eats” and “Cultivating Community” she is using her voice and her experience to help people find pathways to quality, affordable, and healthful food choices.
On this episode, we dive into her unique insights on creating meaningful experiences with produce, learnings from her extensive career, and her impactful initiatives like the Big Fresh Market Box and Big State Bodega program. From navigating personal hardships to spearheading community feeding programs, Jamie's story is a powerful blend of perseverance and passion.
🌮 Jamie's love for versatile tacos and her reflections on overcoming health challenges provide a heartwarming and inspiring listen. We also discuss smart purchasing practices to reduce food waste, the importance of strong vendor relationships, and her hopes for being remembered as someone who bridges the gap between farming and culinary arts. 🎤✨
Heard on the Episode
"Being a good buyer means understanding your needs and not creating excess waste. It's a sign of respect to the food and the farmers." ~Jamie Gonzalez (16:20)
"Struggles can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of community needs."
~ Jamie Gonzalez (43:12)
"And then my career really takes over that when Covid happened, there was not only an opportunity to find creative ways to sell produce in the community, because when I feed you, I feed myself. In order to help our company survive in a time where we lost 80% of our business overnight, but also on a personal level, it reignited my understanding and my passion of wanting to connect my community with each other and with the resources that we have that we can share with each other." ~Jamie Gonzalez (22:55)
Key Topics Discussed
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Smart Purchasing and Food Waste
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Society's tendency to overbuy.
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Strategies for sustainable purchasing.
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Vendor Relationships
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Importance of working closely with purveyors.
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Learning from event planners to avoid over-purchasing.
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Empowerment through Adversity
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Jamie's story of overcoming health and financial challenges.
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Personal growth and career shift post-surgery.
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Community Building through Produce
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Initiatives like the Big Fresh Market Box.
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Partnering with organizations to distribute produce.
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Female Empowerment in the Food Industry
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Challenges and contributions of women in the industry.
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Jamie's philosophy and moniker in carving out identity.
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Key Takeaways
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Reduce Food Waste: Be mindful of your actual food needs to avoid wastage and respect the food supply chain.
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Build Vendor Relationships: Strong connections with suppliers can lead to more sustainable and efficient practices, benefiting everyone involved.
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Embrace Resilience: Personal and professional setbacks can be transformative, guiding you back to your roots with newfound strength.
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Community Impact: Community feeding programs and local initiatives can bridge the gap between food availability and those in need.
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Women in Food: Highlighting and supporting female leaders in the food industry is crucial for more inclusive and diverse practices.
Tips
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Smart Purchasing: Only buy what you need and rotate your produce regularly to minimize waste.
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Vendor Communication: Collaborate with purveyors to understand proper portion sizes and needs for your events.
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Support Local Farmers: Engage in community programs that support local agriculture and ensure sustainable food chains.
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Plan Thoughtfully: For event planners, avoiding over-purchasing not only prevents wastage but also supports financial health.
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Education and Empowerment: Educate yourself and your community about sustainable food practices and waste reduction.
Useful Links
https://marketbox.big-state-produce.com
https://www.instagram.com/putadelafruta/
https://www.facebook.com/putadelafruta/
www.linkedin.com/in/putadelafruta
https://www.instagram.com/bigfreshmarketbox/
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Jamie Gonzalez
Director of Community Food
Known as the “Puta De La Fruta”, Jamie Gonzalez uses her passion and unique moniker to be a voice of strength and empowerment in her industry and her community. She has over 15 years of experience in produce distribution and food manufacturing with an emphasis on operations, sales, and business and community development. Today, Jamie focuses on building community feeding programs such as the BIG FRESH Market Box, The Big State Bodega Program, and a series of traveling produce markets that partner with organizations such as the American Heart Association and Common Threads. Since 2020, Jamie has partnered with over 50 organizations to distribute over 3 million pounds of food. Jamie believes that everyone deserves to have access to the same quality foods and is passionate about changing the culture of how we eat by bringing meaningful experiences with food to everyone. She endeavors to be a champion for the food/hospitality industry and advocates for the understanding that our contributions to the food system go far beyond a traditional kitchen.