July 20, 2022 – The GIANT Company recently donated $1.1 million to the Rodale Institute, the global nonprofit dedicated to growing the organic movement through rigorous research, farmer training, and consumer education. The funds were raised through The GIANT Company’s Healing Our Planet campaign, which ran from March 1 to May 31, and allowed customers to round up their checkout purchases to the nearest dollar at GIANT, MARTIN’S and GIANT Heirloom Market stores.
The GIANT Company presented Rodale Institute with a check for $1,099,208.55 at a ceremony event at The GIANT Company headquarters, which was attended by Rodale Institute CEO Jeff Moyer, The GIANT Company President Nicholas Bertram, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Reading, and other recipients of funding from the Healing Our Planet campaign.
“Through their generosity in rounding up at the register, our customers have once again proven how dedicated they are to healing our planet and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support,” said Jessica Groves, community impact manager, The GIANT Company. “Since joining forces with Rodale Institute last year, we have seen firsthand how they are working to expand regenerative organic agricultural practices and create a more sustainable food chain, which is more important than ever before. We’re honored to team up with Rodale as we work to improve the health of people and the planet we call home.”
“Many organizations talk about the problems related to human and planetary health,” said Jeff Moyer, Chief Executive Officer of Rodale Institute. “Nick, the team at The GIANT Company, and their customers are taking action to help find solutions to those problems. By forming a strong partnership with Rodale Institute, the company has taken steps to ensure that more farms will be organic, more soil is being regenerated, and more organic food is available to consumers.”
Rodale Institute has been conducting research into regenerative organic agriculture, as well as farmer training and education opportunities, since 1947, and currently operates 8 campuses in 4 states. The GIANT Company’s donation will directly support three key initiatives of Rodale Institute centered around farm consulting, farmer training, and research.
These initiatives include:
- Rodale Institute Farmer Training program (RIFT), an on-site internship that trains beginning farmers for a career in regenerative organic agriculture and supports the Institute’s farm share program, mobile pop-up markets and farmers markets.
- Rodale Institute’s Organic Crop Consulting Services, launched in 2019 with the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which support farmers who are seeking to transition to organic through one-on-one mentorship with the Institute’s trained agronomists.
- Rodale Institute’s research focuses on three primary areas: growing organic agriculture, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and solving food insecurity by growing nutrient-dense foods.
In addition to Rodale Institute, additional funds were raised for Planet Bee Foundation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
