Harris Teeter and Washington Fruit Growers team to fight hunger

Earlier this summer, Harris Teeter and Washington Fruit Growers teamed to provide fresh produce to those in need through their “Apples in Action” campaign. For every pound of Washington apples purchased at North Carolina Harris Teeter locations from June 12-25, Washington Fruit Growers donated a pound of apples to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

The Yakima, Wash.-based Washington Fruit Growers says it donated 68,000 pounds of apples through the partnership.

“This is our first endeavor with Harris Teeter, but one that we certainly look to repeat and expand upon in partnership together,” Dan Davis, director of business development for Washington Fruit Growers, told The Packer. “Community support has always been one of the core values of Washington Fruit. The expansion of that through reaching out to our core partners in the communities they operate in leads to a healthier environment for all of us.

“We're blessed in the fact that we are in the business of growing a healthy, fresh product that everyone can benefit from. It's an extension of our belief in that product to be able to help,” Davis continued.

Nearly 11% of North Carolina's population doesn't know where their next meal is coming from, reports the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The "Apples in Action" donation supported Second Harvest's mission to address persistent food insecurity within the 14 counties it supports in North Carolina and the 10 counties it supports in South Carolina.

“Harris Teeter is honored to support the 'Apples in Action' campaign to help end hunger in the Carolinas,” said Danna Robinson, Harris Teeter's director of corporate affairs. “Hunger relief is our top priority in giving back to the community, and we're grateful to our trusted vendor Washington Fruit Growers and our generous shoppers for making this donation possible.”

Washington Fruit has been a family-owned growing, packing and shipping operation for more than 100 years. The company says its apples and other fresh produce are one way Harris Teeter provides its customers with fresh, healthy products at a great value.

“Washington Fruit Growers embraces community action as an opportunity to enrich people's lives and drive positive change,” said Marianne Plath of Washington Fruit Growers. “Thanks to our partnership with Harris Teeter, the 'Apples in Action' campaign is an opportunity for us to do just that.”