Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix has donated more than 50 million pounds of produce as part of its initiative to support farmers and food banks in the Southeast.
The program was launched after farmers were forced to discard produce they couldn’t sell because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s domino effect of economic and supply chain issues, according to a news release. Publix began purchasing produce directly from impacted farmers and donating it to food banks throughout the company’s operating area.
As food insecurity continued to affect communities, Publix combined this initiative with a point-of-sale campaign to create Feeding More Together, which provides both produce and nonperishable food items to food banks. Through this campaign, Publix matches customer donations at the register, which provide nonperishable food items, with an equivalent value of fresh produce.
“Providing nourishment to people facing food insecurity is fundamental to our mission of being responsible citizens in our communities,” Publix CEO Todd Jones said in the release. “In America, one in eight people currently face hunger. With the help of Publix’s customers and associates, we can do good together while supplying the foods individuals and families need to thrive.”
Publix’s support and donations are helping a lot, Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said in the release.
“As the number of individuals turning to food banks remains high, the donations from Publix help our network provide hope, dignity and nourishment to people facing food insecurity,” she said.
Also, through the Publix perishable recovery program, associates gather dairy, deli, meat and produce that’s wholesome but unsalable and donate it to food banks throughout the company’s operating area.
Since the start of the program in 2007, Publix has donated enough perishable food to provide nearly 560 million meals to food banks, according to the release. And in the last 12 years, Publix’s register campaigns in support of hunger alleviation have resulted in more than $135 million in food donations.