Coronavirus: Publix to buy farmers’ excess food, donate it to Feeding America

The grocery store chain Publix is helping out two groups that really need it right now.

Farmers have been dumping milk and discarding produce that would normally go to schools, restaurants and other groups that are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, CBS News reported.

>> Coronavirus: Mississippi woman donating stimulus check to food pantry

But Publix announced this week it will be buying the surplus, taking it off the hands of farmers, and instead of selling it, will donate the food and milk to Feeding America food banks in the company’s operating area.

>> Coronavirus: Maryland teens start no-contact grocery delivery for senior citizens

The company donated 150,000 pounds of produce and 43,500 gallons of milk in the first week of the initiative, the company said.

Some food banks across the country have not been able to fulfill the need as people are out of work due to the pandemic, Business Insider reported.

The U.S. Labor Department said about 26.5 million people have filed for unemployment insurance over the past five weeks, according to Business Insider.