Wal-Mart Gives Fresh Food to Help Combat Hunger
Responding to the economic downturn, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to give more than 90 million pounds of fresh food annually to the nation’s largest nonprofit organization addressing hunger, Feeding America [ed note: formerly Second Harvest].
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“A lot of donated food is canned goods or bakery items, but we were interested in seeing how we could provide protein and fresh produce, which is a very different task,” [Wal-Mart spokesman] Ms. McKenna said. “We had to figure out how to fast freeze meat and poultry, even dairy, to ensure that we were not just giving away food but giving away food in a manner that it would be safe.”
I haven’t shopped at Wal-Mart in years. When I did, I bought canned goods and some frozen products, but never ever ever the “fresh” food. Their meats are pre-packaged in nitrogen to retain that lovely red color even after they have begun to spoil. Produce was always months old and often came complete with its own fruit flies buzzing merrily around the displays.
When I briefly worked with Second Harvest many years ago, the deal was that they would pick up fruits and vegetables from restaurants and local grocery stores at or just before their sell-by date in order to prevent them being tossed into a dumpster. If Wal-Mart is now donating their produce and meat just before the sell-by date… and if when it’s still on the shelves it’s approaching inedible…
… you have to wonder if the suits in Bentonville are just trying to foist off their dumpster costs on someone else.
4 Comments
I stopped shopping at Wal-Mart when Sam died. He DID try to get us to “Buy America” at one time. I’m a Costco girl now. Since it is a local company in Washington state, they have lots of local suppliers in the bread, cheese and pre-packaged fresh dinners.
But, I know what you mean about the Waltons trying to be “green” and philanthropic. NOT!!
Scotia, I am with you on Costco! I avoid Wal-Marts for ideological reasons, but the few times I’ve been in one, I find them dim, gloomy places that make me think of the old Soviet Union, for some reason.
But Costco, even though it is far away from me, is the place I go for low-cost small appliances and the few things that make sense for me to buy in bulk.
I run into the most amazing things at Costco! I rather like shopping there.
Third vote for Costco! They opened here in ‘03 and we bought a pre-opening membership at half price. I’d just renewed the Sam’s Club membership for the year, so we decided to shop them both and see which to keep the following year.
A month later, I canceled Sam’s Club and haven’t darkened their doors since.
No Costco here, which sucks. I have to shop around - *really* shop around.
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