BAKERSFIELD, CA - A competition for a cause—if that’s not the produce business in a nutshell, I don’t know what is. Further adding to our industry’s competitive but giving nature, while lifting up the communities in which it serves, Grimmway Farms recently celebrated the impressive gesture by donating more than 7,300 pounds of food to local food banks following a friendly company-wide challenge.
“We are incredibly proud of our teams in both California and Georgia for stepping up this year. This annual tradition is not just about collecting cans; it’s about giving back to our communities that we are so grateful to live and work in,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Huckaby. “During this time of increased inflation and higher cost of living, we are happy to lend a hand to help bless families in our communities throughout the holiday season.”
The event marks Grimmway’s 7th annual canned food drive, offering a total of 7,365 pounds of items collected to Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) in California and items collected in Georgia were given to Second Harvest of South Georgia. According to a press release, the company also matched 100 percent of all employee-donated items, doubling the impact of aid to those in need.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a generous family of employees,” Sara Oliver, Chief People Officer, commented. “Every year, we are happy to play a part to help meet the need before us and feel fortunate that we are able to partner with such impactful organizations that are on the front lines of addressing food insecurity in our communities.”
In California, Kern County consistently ranks first among regions with the highest need in the country, with many residents fighting food insecurity each year. The 26 county service areas of South Georgia, Grimmway remarked, have among the highest rates of food insecurity in the state.
Congratulations to the Bakersfield-based company and its team on this impactful achievement!
