Kings Food Markets Partners with Grow it Green Morristown to Make Fresh, Local Food Accessible to All

Kings Food Markets announces its partnership with Grow It Green Morristown, a community building nonprofit organization focused on growing food, to create and maintain a healthy and safe environment. Kings has been a supporter of Grow It Green Morristown for several years and is now taking the next step to assist the organization with collaborative projects centered on making fresh, local food accessible, educating the community on healthy habits and providing green spaces. Together, Kings and Grow It Green Morristown will work to provide local residents with access and awareness of healthy food, Kings officials say. Kings Food Markets began as a local food market in New Jersey in 1936, and still maintains the core value of serving its local communities in the fight to end hunger; through its Act Against Hunger Initiative, Kings has donated more than 100,000 pounds of food to the community for those in need, officials add. With six stores in Morris County, including the newly renovated space right in Morristown, Kings will partner with Grow It Green Morristown on several platforms, including in-store, social media and volunteer opportunities. “We are very proud to work with Grow It Green Morristown to provide fresh, local produce to the community while educating them on healthy eating habits and how to be self-sufficient, as part of our Act Against Hunger Initiative,” says Judy Spires, president and CEO of Kings Food Markets. “Hunger relief is an issue that we take very seriously, and we are thrilled to be able to give back to the community through this initiative.” During the past two growing seasons, Grow It Green Morristown has donated more than 5,500 pounds of fresh, local produce to those in need within its community, officials say. The organization also has provided opportunities for community members to buy food at-cost, and grow their own food, making it more accessible for all. Grow It Green Morristown transforms abandoned or under-utilized areas of Morristown into beautiful and useful green spaces, such as the Early Street Community Garden and the Urban Farm located at the Morris School District’s Lafayette Learning Center, to provide opportunities for community engagement, health education, and environmental awareness. “Kings Food Markets has been a valuable supporter of Grow It Green Morristown over the past several years and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support,” says Abby Gallo, executive director of Grow It Green Morristown. “Kings’ donations have allowed us to expand the physical space of the farm and grow the produce, which has in turn, enabled us to donate fresh produce to area soup kitchens, shelters and schools.” This year, Kings Food Markets will be involved in Grow It Green’s Third Annual Fundraising Gala, Diamonds for Kale, on Saturday, April 18th. The gala will raise funds to support Grow It Green Morristown’s work to bring farm-based educational programs to students and adults in the greater Morristown community and make fresh, local food and outdoor spaces accessible to all.