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Publix expands produce, dairy rescue program

Effort aims to prevent food waste, address food insecurity during pandemic

Russell Redman

July 9, 2020

2 Min Read
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The Feeding South Florida food bank said it has received more than 720,000 pounds of produce and 97,000 gallons of milk from Publix over the last 10 weeks.Publix

Publix Super Markets is extending the reach of a program to buy fresh produce and milk from farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and donate the products to food banks.

As the growing season moves north, Publix is bringing the food rescue program to more states. In addition to purchasing produce from farmers in Florida, the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer is now buying produce from farmers in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Plans call for the company to add farmers from Tennessee and Virginia in the coming weeks. 

Publix launched the produce and milk rescue program on April 21. Under the initiative, the Southeastern supermarket chain buys excess fruit, vegetables and milk directly from produce and dairy farmers, who have seen demand plunge due to business shutdowns and consumer lockdowns during the COVID-19 crisis. Publix then donates the produce and milk to Feeding America member food banks in its market area.

After the first week, Publix procured more than 150,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables and 43,500 gallons of milk for donation. Two-and-a-half months later, those totals have climbed to over 5 million pounds of produce and 350,000 gallons of milk.

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A Publix truck makes a delivery of rescued food at the Feeding South Florida food bank.

“During these challenging times, we remain committed to working together to find the solutions that positively impact our communities in need. We are honored to continue our support of Feeding America member food banks and to purchase produce and milk from farmers across the Southeast,” Publix CEO Todd Jones said in a statement. “As the harvest season moves north, so is our initiative, expanding to support additional farmers and serve as many people as possible.”

Related:Podcast: Publix’s Curt Epperson says farmers’ plight called for quick response

Publix noted that many farmers have been compelled to discard produce and raw milk due as the spread of coronavirus forced the closure of schools, restaurants, hotels and other establishments, resulting in significantly decreased demand. At the same time, more people have turned to Feeding America to get food amid the pandemic-triggered economic downturn. 

The rescue program saves farmers from being forced to throw away surplus food and provides a lifeline to the 17 million people that Feeding America estimates will experience food insecurity because of the virus outbreak, according to Publix, which operates 1,251 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

“We have received more than 720,000 pounds of produce and 97,000 gallons of milk from Publix over the last 10 weeks. This has helped us provide food to more than 1 million individuals,” stated Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “We are grateful to Publix not only for their support of growers, but also Feeding South Florida through this initiative as well as their perishable food and monetary donations all year long.” 

Related:Publix purchases produce, milk from farmers impacted by pandemic

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Publix Super Markets

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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