Food Companies, Regionals Continue to Aid Coronavirus Relief Efforts

Chiquita announced that it wants to act as a good neighbor and aid relief to families across the U.S. during the COVID-19 outbreak. Through partnerships with Feeding America, the YMCA and various hospitals and school districts, Boston-based Chiquita is donating 1 million bananas. The donation is timed to help vulnerable populations, such as children and senior citizens, impacted by food shortages.

“At the heart of Chiquita, we are farmers and banana growers who recognize our responsibility to provide nutritious bananas to people facing food insecurity during these uncertain times,” said Chiquita President Carlos Lopez Flores. Additionally, Chiquita has removed Miss Chiquita from its blue sticker logo for the first time in its history. The move is meant to encourage people to stay home. The brand wrote on Instagram, in reference to Miss Chiquita: "I'm already home. Please do the same and protect yourself. #stayhome."

NuCal Foods, the Northern California distributor of eggs from local family farms, announced they will be donating 6 million eggs to local California food banks and nonprofits through their network of partner agencies of pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. NuCal is working with trucking companies able to donate their distribution services to deliver the eggs, which are in the form of frozen eggs in 5-gallon containers.

"No one should go hungry during this challenging COVID-19 emergency. With school closures and job losses, thousands of Californians will depend on local nonprofits for help," said Dave Crockett, president of NuCal. "Many children depend on school lunches as their primary nutrition for the day. We want to support the nonprofit organizations that are filling the gap for those most vulnerable in our local community."

Kayco Food Co., the Bayonne, N.J.-based maker and distributor of kosher foods, said it is donating more than 100 cases of food to CarePoint Medical Center, a nearby hospital, to help feed healthcare givers during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Regional Retailers Step Up Too 

Brookshire Grocery Co. is donating $1 million to food banks across Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, along with matching customers’ donations up to $500,000 with the goal to help thousands of people at risk. Brookshire said its donation will be distributed across its market area and to several organizations, including the East Texas Food Bank, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, FoodNet Food Bank of Louisiana, the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana and Harvest Regional Food Bank (in Texarkana), over the next two years.

In Kansas City, proud locally owned grocer Price Chopper is donating $250,000 to Harvesters to help the area’s largest community food network meet the growing demand for assistance. The retailer is also offering customers the opportunity to donate $1, $5 or $10 to Harvesters at checkout or online. 

Price Chopper Chief Marketing Officer Casie Broker said, “With this donation, Harvesters will be able to provide 750,000 meals to Kansas Citians who need them."

And in New England, Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets is donating $750,000 to numerous hunger relief and homeless outreach organizations throughout the Northeast. Hannaford’s donation includes a commitment of $550,000 to food banks in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts, with $300,000 in new funds, and a total of $200,000 going to organizations that work with homeless people.