Burpee donates 11 million seeds to Feeding America food banks on Hunger Action Day

September 17, 2021

We were honored to receive a seed donation from Burpee this morning as a part of an unprecedented 11 million vegetable seed donation to Feeding America food banks.

The gift is part of a partnership between the nation’s largest hunger relief organization Feeding America and Burpee to raise awareness for the problem of food insecurity and community action for Hunger Action Month in September. An estimated one in eight, or 42 million Americans, are currently experiencing food insecurity. In Delaware, Feeding America estimates one in nine people (114,190) and one in six children (32,820) face hunger on a daily basis.

In addition to making the seed donation this morning, Burpee donated $2,500 and the team, alongside City of Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton, assisted on the Food Bank’s five-acre farm. They spread new mulch, planted perennials and weeded in the community education garden.

The seed donation will help expand the Food Bank’s efforts to grow fresh vegetables. Food grown on the farm is sold at the Food Bank’s on-site farm stand to help create revenue to support the farm, distributed through a Community Supported Agriculture program (includes paid shares and no-cost shares for Delawareans in need), and distributed out of the Food Bank of Delaware’s on-site Healthy Pantry Center.

Last year, the farm produced 12,780 pounds of fresh produce. The operation of the farm would not be possible without community support from organizations like Burpee and volunteers.

“We are grateful for Burpees’ support today,” said Food Bank of Delaware Farm Manager Kyle Brolis. “These seeds will enable us to increase our growing capacity and provide more diverse vegetable choices for both customers at the farm stand and our neighbors in need. Ensuring that low-income Delawareans have access to fresh, locally-grown produce is so critical for us at the Food Bank of Delaware.”

To learn more about the Food Bank farm, click here.

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