As part of the inaugural donation made on behalf of the Growing Forward™ with Feeding America® campaign, RPE, Inc. donated 40,000 pounds of potatoes, delivered to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s food bank on Monday, May 4.
Distributing more than 22 million pounds of food each year, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the state’s largest food bank and a member of the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks. Its two distribution centers help alleviate food insecurity by providing meals to the eastern half of Wisconsin.
“Our company prides itself on a strong commitment to giving back to our community. It’s rewarding to know our potatoes will help those facing hunger across the state,” says Marketing Manager, Melissa Sylte.
The 40,000 pound donation is based on consumer participation in RPE’s Lock Out Hunger promotion, which ran during the holiday season. As part of the promotion, which was exclusive to RPE’s Old Oak Farms brand, RPE donated 10 pounds of potatoes for every code that was entered online from specially-marked Kwik Lok tags.
“Our Lock Out Hunger promotion was very successful, and we’re already considering additional opportunities through Growing Forward™ to engage our consumers in the fight against hunger,” noted Sylte.
The Growing Forward™ with Feeding America® campaign was developed specifically for companies in the produce industry to distribute more fresh fruits and vegetables to Feeding America member food banks across the United States. It provides a unique opportunity for brands to highlight local efforts while aligning with the national organization, Feeding America. Through customized or joint promotions, fresh produce companies can utilize the campaign to reach both retailers and consumers while helping feed more families in need.
“RPE is a family-owned Wisconsin farm that shares our values of providing healthy and nutritious food to families,” said Charles McLimans, president and CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “We are able to provide locally grown, healthy foods to thousands of people each day who benefit from strong community partnerships like this one.”
About RPE
RPE, Inc., a third-generation family farming operation, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of potatoes and onions year-round. RPE takes pride in maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, category innovation and retail solutions.