Pomona (February 1, 2002) – Food, food everywhere – everything from specialty cheeses and meats to melt-in-your mouth desserts. It was all there at the SYSCO Food Show held January 23 and 24 at the Pomona Fairplex, and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee was invited to join the party.
SYSCO is North America’s largest foodservice marketing and distribution company, and asked the MSRC to participate as an exhibitor at this year’s show alongside the SYSCO Transportation Group. The show drew approximately 14,000 participants from restaurants, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities, theme parks, bakeries, delis and more who came to sample – and purchase - the latest in food products and services.
SYSCO Food, Los Angeles, has committed to an ambitious clean fuels program for its Southern California fleet and is replacing its heavy-duty diesel trucks with clean liquified natural gas. A large SYSCO LNG truck adorned with the MSRC logo was parked right out front of the display hall for a close up look. The company’s goal is to convert its entire fleet to LNG by 2008, and estimates this will reduce overall fleet emissions to 46% of current levels. The MSRC, California Air Resources Board, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Technology Office, have been helping SYSCO Food, Los Angeles, to reach their clean fuel goal. The agencies have provided funding for 33 SYSCO trucks, and are helping SYSCO to build a state-of-the- art LNG fueling station that will be accessible to the public.
SYSCO Food, Los Angeles, is using Caterpillar C- 12 dual-fuel engines that run on a combination of natural gas and diesel to power its heavy-duty trucks, cutting emissions by more than half. “We hope that our display and presence at the SYSCO Food show will encourage others involved in the trillion-dollar food industry, as well as other commercial carriers, to consider switching to alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles,” said William Kleindienst, MSRC chairman and mayor of Palm Springs.
An avid supporter of clean fuels programs, SYSCO Food, Los Angeles, has sent vehicles and representatives to other SYSCO regional offices to encourage the use of LNG-powered vehicles. As a result of its efforts, SYSCO Food, Los Angeles, will be nominated for an AQMD 2002 “Clean Air Award”.