REIDSVILLE, GA - Giving back has been a key facet of Shuman Farms’ operation since its inception, and the company is furthering its commitment to serving local communities throughout the month of June alongside Feeding America®. Together, the pair will help to support food insecure families across the U.S. through Shuman Farms’ special Feeding America RealSweet® Vidalia® onion bags, in addition to the grower providing 100,000 meals to those in need.
“At Shuman Farms, we believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards of what we have been given,” said John Shuman, President and CEO. “Not only is it important to do this through our sustainability efforts, but also through how we give back locally and to the communities in which we do business. Our Feeding America program each June is an important part of that mission.”
In addition to its Feeding America RealSweet Vidalia bags, Shuman Farms team members have spent their time volunteering at local their Feeding America food bank, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. According to a press release, the team has packed close to 2,500 breakfast bags that were then distributed to kids in need throughout communities in Southeast Georgia.
Feeding America estimates that more than 42 million people may experience food insecurity in 2021, including a potential 13 million children, which is why Shuman Farms’ efforts to raise funds and awareness are crucial. This comes at a pivotal time, as summer breaks are especially hard for children who rely on free or reduced lunches during the school year.
To help draw attention to the cause, retailers who carry the Feeding America RealSweet Vidalia bags will be given in-store signage, display bins, and suggested social media posts to support the initiative and inform consumers about the food insecurity in the U.S.
Furthering its dedication to fighting food insecurity, Shuman Farms will also participate in the Healthy Family Project’s annual Produce for Kids’ retail campaigns in several grocers including Publix, Associated Wholesale Grocers’ Springfield and Oklahoma banners, MDI banners, Rouses Markets, TOPS Friendly Markets, and Stop & Shop.
Healthy Family Project® was founded in 2002 by John Shuman, and is a cause-marketing organization dedicated to creating a healthier generation and giving back to families across the U.S. Since 2014, Healthy Family Project has also partnered with Feeding America to give back to families and children who suffer from food insecurity.
“Healthy Family Project was founded in hopes for the produce industry to come together and give back to those in need,” Shuman added. “Now, two decades later, Healthy Family Project and our partners have raised more than $7 million for charities across the U.S. including more than 12 million meals donated to Feeding America.”
Throughout 2021, the Produce for Kids campaign will provide over 1.3 million meals to more than 65 Feeding America food banks and thousands of food pantries across the country.
Shuman Farms started shipping its RealSweet brand Vidalia onions in April and expects to have good availability and quality Vidalia onions throughout the summer until transitioning to RealSweet premium sweet onions from Peru in September.
Hats off to Shuman Farms for its dedication to supporting its communities and helping fight hunger through the power of fresh produce.
