YAKIMA, Wash. – January marks the launch of FirstFruits Marketing’s annual Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program at select retailers. Approximately 1 million pounds of fresh apples have been donated to local food banks in the name of the participating retailers since the program started in 2010.
FirstFruits Marketing created Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ with the goal of helping feed the underserved while bringing attention to the problem of food insecurity in the United States. This is the fifth year that FirstFruits Marketing has partnered to make fresh apple donations in a retailer’s name to local food banks with the retailer contributing the cost of freight.
“This program continues to get stronger each year,” remarked Dennis Jackson, category manager of FirstFruits of Washington. “We are pleased to work with our retail partners to make these donations happen in the local trade areas, and feedback from the food banks has been overwhelmingly appreciative.”
Retailers participating in the program this year include Dave’s Marketplace, Grocery Outlet, Roundy’s,
A&P/Pathmark, United Supermarkets, Ahold, Harveys, Charlie’s Produce and Stater Brothers. Last year over 200,000 pounds of fresh apples were donated in the retailers’ names to food banks of their designation in local trade areas.
The Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program provides full retail support with campaign themed polybags and merchandisers, point of sale cards and ad slicks. A quick response (QR) code on collateral links to a video about hunger. At the conclusion of the program local press is invited to cover the food bank donations.
The problem of hunger isn’t just about being hungry. It’s about food insecurity, or not having regular access to safe, affordable and nutritious foods. As of 2010, 15% of all U.S. households were food-insecure; 33% of those were children, 96% reported that the food they bought just did not last and they did not have money to get more, and 94% reported that they could not afford to eat balanced meals.
FirstFruits Marketing is a collaborative apple marketing company owned by growers. These growers share a commitment to producing high quality fruit while balancing the demands of purpose, people, planet and profit so that a portion of profits can be donated to non-profit missions supporting the underserved. For more Information, visit www.firstfruits.com
Source: FirstFruits Marketing
