Publix, Healthy Family Project campaign provides 825K meals to food banks

As part of the Healthy Family Project’s annual fall Produce for Kids cause marketing campaign with Publix, 17 produce companies provided 825,000 meals to the 37 Feeding America partner food banks, according to a news release.

The campaign, held Sept. 26 through Nov. 4 in the Publix produce departments, is in its 22nd year and has raised more than $4.1 million for causes that support families and children in the communities in which Publix operates, the release said. The campaign has also helped provide more than 15 million meals to Feeding America partner food banks.

During the six-week campaign, more than 1,300 Publix stores displayed signs near participating produce vendors, inviting shoppers to explore a free, bilingual digital cookbook. Each sign featured a QR code linking to the cookbook packed with seasonal recipe inspiration, a section introducing the Publix dietitian team and nutrition tips.

"Publix is dedicated to creating positive change in the communities we serve," said Dwaine Stevens, director of community relations for Publix. "Our 22-year collaboration with Healthy Family Project’s Produce for Kids campaign reflects this commitment."

Campaign sponsors were featured in a Halloween-themed Instagram Live cooking class hosted by the Healthy Family Project and were also highlighted in Healthy Family Project social media and e-newsletter content.

"Our continued partnership with Publix and our valued produce partners has allowed us to make a meaningful difference in Publix communities over the years," said John Shuman, founder of Healthy Family Project and president for Shuman Farms.

Partners supporting the fall Publix Produce for Kids cause-marketing campaign included Ayco Farms, Bay Food Brokerage, Chiquita, Coast Tropical, Crunch Pak, Hero, Del Monte Fresh, Fresh Express, GT’s Living Foods, Mariani Nut Co., Marzetti, Mission Produce, Nasoya, Sunset, Rainer Fruit, Village Farms Greenhouse Grown and Wonderful Halos Mandarins.

The release said an estimated 47 million people, including nearly 14 million children, in the U.S. were living in food-insecure households in 2023, according to the USDA.