Hurricane victims received a bite from Michigan recently. Michigan’s Apple industry sent a truckload of apples to Houston and the surrounding communities to assist in the Harvey recovery efforts.

The Michigan Apple Committee worked with apple shipping and sales organizations across the state to coordinate delivery to food banks via the Houston Division of the Kroger Co.

“We know the need for food is an ongoing issue as Houston and the surrounding areas recover from Hurricane Harvey,” says Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “We’ve heard that school is starting there, and many students and their families are displaced at this time. The Michigan apple industry wants to do its part to make sure those people have something healthy to eat.”

A truckload of apples donated by shipping organizations were shipped mid-September and is being received and stored by Kroger Houston Division and distributed to food banks as needed. There are approximately 100,000 apples in a truckload.

“Michigan apple growers, shippers and other industry members are always willing to step up and do their part to contribute to those in need,” Smith says. “It was just a matter of coordinating the logistics and working with someone on the receiving end to get this done. It’s important to all of us to be able to provide what we can to the people who need it.”

Michigan apple shippers who donated product include Jack Brown Produce Inc. of Sparta; North Bay Produce Inc. of Traverse City; and Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc. of Sparta. In addition, the Michigan Apple Committee contributed apples and paid freight costs for the donation.

Michigan apple growers will harvest an estimated 20.3 million bushels of apples in 2017. There are more than 11.3 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 35,500 acres on 825 family-run farms in Michigan.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit michiganapples.com.

Source: MAC