FirstFruits Marks 16 Years of Take a Bite Out of Hunger, Donates 130,000 Pounds of Apples

YAKIMA, WA — FirstFruits Farms proudly concluded its 2026 Take a Bite Out of Hunger® campaign at the end of April, celebrating 16 years of fighting food insecurity through retail partnerships.

This year, FirstFruits, on behalf of its retail partners, donated more than 130,000 pounds of fresh apples to food banks and hunger relief organizations across the country. Since its inception, the program has delivered over 3.2 million pounds of apples, helping provide fresh, nutritious food to families in need nationwide.

Founded in 2010, the Take a Bite Out of Hunger® campaign was created when FirstFruits recognized a need within the communities it serves. The initiative was designed to address the significant shortage of fresh produce donations to food banks, particularly in the post-holiday period when contributions tend to decline. FirstFruits partnered with retail organizations nationwide to help feed underserved populations while raising awareness around food insecurity. When shoppers purchase specifically marked apples, a percentage of that volume is donated back in fresh apples to food banks in their communities.

The 2026 campaign was made possible through partnerships with leading regional retailers, including Bashas, Charlie’s Produce, Dave’s Marketplace, Good Food Store, Haggen, Raley’s Supermarkets, Roth’s Fresh Market, and United Supermarkets. Donations were distributed to key hunger relief organizations within their communities, including:

• Bashas – Brighter Bites (Phoenix, AZ)
• Dave’s Marketplace – West Bay Community Center (Warwick, RI)
• Raley’s Supermarkets – Alameda County Community Food Bank (Oakland, CA)
• Charlie’s Produce Seattle & Haggen – Bellingham Food Bank (Bellingham, WA)
• Charlie’s Produce Spokane & Good Food Store – Montana Food Bank Network (Missoula, MT)
• Charlie’s Produce Portland & Roth’s Fresh Market – Hope Station (Salem, OR)
• United Supermarkets – South Plains Food Bank (Lubbock, TX)

The campaign also reflects the ongoing partnership with The United Family, a founding supporter of the program.

“At FirstFruits, we believe in putting people first – which is demonstrated by our Vista Hermosa Community in Prescott, WA, our EFI certification, the Opal Youth Make a Difference Initiative, and the Take a Bite Out of Hunger® campaign,” said Aimee Bach, Business Development Manager at FirstFruits. “We’re proud to partner with retailers that have the same values to bring fresh, healthy fruit to communities in need.”

About FirstFruits Farms

Operating for over 45 years, FirstFruits Farms is dedicated to growing the highest quality apples, cherries, and pears in the industry. We grow over 10 varieties of apples on 10,000 acres in Eastern Washington. We are unique in the industry because our fruit is grown, stored, and packed at the same location—a practice unmatched in our industry giving us greater control over the quality and safety of our products. We pride ourselves in serving families all across the world by growing exceptional fruit. For more information on FirstFruits Farms visit www.FirstFruits.com