FirstFruits donates apples to local food banks

Yakima, Wash.-based FirstFruits Marketing donated 225,920 pounds of apples to food pantries as part of its Take a Bite Out of Hunger program.

Take a Bite Out of Hunger brings together retailers and wholesalers that contribute apples to local families with food insecurity. Since 2010, the program has donated 1,825,000 pounds of apples to the cause, according to a news release.

Participants of the seventh annual initiative included AG New England, Charlie’s Produce, Dave’s Marketplace, Frazier Farms Market, Good Food Stores, Market of Choice, Metropolitan Market, OK Produce, Roundy’s, Sobey’s, Stater Brothers, Super 1 Foods and United Supermarkets.

“The Take a Bite Out of Hunger program continues to grow every year thanks to the continued support and dedication from our partners,” Chuck Zeutenhorst, general manager of FirstFruits, said in the release. “Their participation is not just about the donation, but also about engaging and educating consumers about the issues surrounding hunger.”