Locally grown food will go to individuals at risk of going hungry

Contact:
Eric Blom
207-885-3132
     
News Release

 

 

Scarborough, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced more than $400,000 in donations to strengthen the connection between local food producers and organizations that serve people at risk of going hungry.

 

The grants will provide farmers with refrigerated transport for donated crops; fund pilot programs to bring local produce to low-income children and senior citizens; help people who are struggling financially to grow food and become farmers; assist food banks in the acquisition of products that are grown nearby; and support numerous initiatives focused on producing nutritious, local food for low-income individuals.

 

"Locally grown food can be an even greater resource for eliminating hunger among our neighbors than it is today.  Hannaford is committed to helping provide more local food to people who are struggling financially," said Julie Libby, Vice President, Fresh Category Management, Merchandising and Pricing for Hannaford Supermarkets. "Farms produce fresh, nutritious food – exactly what hungry people need – and help keep the local economy strong."

 

Earlier this year, Hannaford encouraged customers to purchase healthy food – items that received at least one star through the Guiding Stars nutrition navigation program. For every item purchased, Hannaford promised to make a financial donation toward hunger relief.

 

The initiative triggered $407,000 in donations by Hannaford across its five-state market area. Hannaford announced those donations this week at a farm in rural Hollis, N.H. and an urban farm at Kennedy Park, a low-income housing community in downtown Portland, Maine.

 

The Hollis announcement took place at Brookdale Fruit Farm, which was donating produce to the Food Bank through the New Hampshire Young Farmers program on Monday.  Brookdale is one of the more than 2,000 local food producers who supply Hannaford stores with fresh produce and other items.

The New Hampshire Young Farmers program plans to use much of the $40,000 it received from Hannaford toward refrigerated trucks that will allow the group to collect additional donations for the New Hampshire Food Bank.

 

“We can’t thank Hannaford Supermarkets enough for this contribution to our project and the awareness it brings to the efforts of groups like ours, and many others, who are working to fight hunger here in New Hampshire," said Amy Matarozzo, Chair of the NH Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee. "This will increase our efficiency and reach in ways that would not be possible without it.”
 
This week's Hannaford Helps donation builds on existing initiatives to fight hunger across the Northeast.

 

Last year, Hannaford donated 23 million pounds of meat, seafood, produce and packaged food to local pantries and food banks. The company also supported nutrition education programs for low-income individuals, helped establish in-school food pantries and generated $1.3 million in donations through our fall Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger campaign.

 

“We are so grateful to Hannaford for their continued support for our organization and the Mainers Feeding Mainers program," said Nancy Perry, program manager for Mainers Feeding Mainers, Good Shepherd Food Bank’s local foods program. “This funding will allow us to purchase nutritious food from our local farm partners and test out innovative new methods for distributing the food to the most rural and under-served area of our state.”

 

Groups receiving donations include:

• Good Shepherd Food Bank -- $100,00
• Cultivating Community (Portland, Maine) -- $30,000
• Full Plates Full Potential (Portland, Maine) -- $10,000
• New Hampshire Food Bank -- $40,000
• NH Young Farmers -- $40,000
• Vermont Foodbank -- $40,000
• Regional Foodbank of Northeastern NY -- $80,000
• Capital Roots (Albany, NY) -- $10,000
• Food Bank of Central NY -- $20,000
• Greater Boston (Massachusetts) Food Bank -- $25,000
• Worcester County (Massachusetts) Food Bank -- $10,000
• Local initiatives -- $2,000

 

About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 181 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 26,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.