A&P Helps ‘Take A Bite Out of Hunger’

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) has donated 46,200 pounds of apples, divided between the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and Island Harvest in Mineola, N.Y., to help feed the hungry in the organizations' respective surrounding areas. The donation reflects A&P’s participation in the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” program sponsored by FirstFruits Marketing of Washington.

FirstFruits, a Yakima, Wash.-based collaborative apple marketing company owned by growers, created the campaign to help feed the needy while raising awareness of food insecurity in the United States. 2013 is the third year it has teamed with local retailers such as A&P to make donations to local food banks across the country.

“Take a Bite Out of Hunger is a great way to provide fresh produce to our food bank,” said Eric Beelitz, director of produce at Montvale, N.J.-based A&P. “This program provides tangible help to those in need, and providing the donation in the area where we work and live helps support our community.”

This year, seven retailers have joined the effort, with 250,000 pounds of apples amassed for donation to local food banks throughout the United States.

A&P operates more than 300 stores in six states under the A&P, Best Cellars, Food Basics, The Food Emporium, Pathmark, Superfresh and Waldbaum’s banners.