San Bernardino, California (May 10, 2022) – Stater Bros. Markets recently donated 20,000 lbs. of fresh apples to Feeding America Riverside I San Bernardino (FARSB) as part of the Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program sponsored by FirstFruits Marketing of Washington. The donation ensures that local food banks will be well-equipped to provide nutritious fresh fruit to the underserved in the local community.

“No one should ever go hungry, and everyone should have access to a balanced and nutritious diet with fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Nancy Negrette, Chairman and President Stater Bros. Charities. “This important work can only be accomplished through partnerships with great organizations like FirstFruits Marketing and Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino,” continued Negrette.

Hunger is not just about being hungry. It is also about not having regular access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food. That is why FirstFruits created the Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ campaign to help feed the underserved and bring attention to the problem of food insecurity in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that 11.8% of all U.S. households are considered food insecure.

“Fresh fruits and vegetables are a luxury to many. It’s an honor to help our retail partners like Stater Bros. in providing fresh, nutritious apples to their communities,” stated Aimee Bach, Business Development Manager at FirstFruits Marketing. “We thank Stater Bros. for their continued partnership with the program.”

With the help of FARSB and their local food pantry partners, the fresh produce will be distributed throughout local communities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

About Stater Bros. Markets

Communities throughout Southern California look to Stater Bros. Markets for Fresh. Affordable. Community First. grocery shopping every day. Stater Bros. nurtures families and their communities at more than 170 stores and through the helping hands of 18,000 caring employees. While the Stater Bros. meat counter is legendary for its quality and variety, every store department is designed to surprise and delight today’s shoppers. The company lives out its values through the charitable efforts of its non-profit, Stater Bros. Charities. Learn more at staterbros.com.

About FirstFruits Marketing

FirstFruits Marketing is dedicated to supplying the highest quality apples, pears, and cherries in the industry. FirstFruits grows over 15 varieties of apples and cherries grown across 10,000 acres in Eastern Washington. We are unique in the industry because our fruit is grown, stored and packed at the same location—a practice unmatched in our industry giving us greater control over the quality and safety of our products. For more information on FirstFruits Marketing visit http://www.ffm-wa.com/.

About Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino Counties

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is leading the fight against hunger in the Inland Empire by providing food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary source of food to over 200 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over two million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, halfway houses, senior centers, residential treatment centers, shelters for the abused, after school programs and group homes. With the help of these charity partners, they make up the largest hunger-relief organization in the Inland Empire, making food security a reality for over 1.2 million people every year. Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino proudly holds the 2022 Guide Star Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of transparency achievable through Guide Star. For more information, visit www.FeedingIE.org.

STATER BROS. MARKETS…SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR 85 YEARS