The Giant Co. is partnering with Rodale Institute to support ecologically safe farming, sustainable retailing, and efforts to eliminate hunger. Rodale Institute is widely recognized as a founder of the modern organic movement and has been a global leader in regenerative agriculture for over 70 years.
“Through education, research and training, Rodale Institute is quite clearly leading the charge to transform farming for the better, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have this resource just two hours from our home office,” said Nicholas Bertram, Giant Co. president, in a statement. “Their important work complements our other environmental initiatives, including offsetting our carbon footprint, creating pollinator habitats, and reducing food waste. By partnering with Rodale Institute, the pioneers of organic farming, we are able to support sustainable efforts from the farm to our stores and ultimately to our customers’ tables.”
The Giant Co. will support three key Rodale initiatives addressing farm consulting, farmer training, and research. The first is Rodale’s Organic Crop Consulting Services, which support farmers seeking to transition to organic through one-on-one mentorship with the institute’s trained agronomists. The second is the Rodale Institute Farmer Training program, 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. The third initiative Giant Co. is supporting is an ongoing research study connecting healthy soil with human health, with the goal of healing people and the Earth by increasing organic acres, training new organic farmers and putting science behind organic agriculture.
Starting today, The Giant Co. is launching its Healing the Planet in support of Rodale Institute and other organizations focusing on environmentally-friendly initiative. Customers at Giant, Martin’s, and Giant Heirloom Market stores can contribute when shopping by rounding up the dollar amount on their purchases at checkout.
“Rodale Institute is proud to have a retail partner in The Giant Co., who provides food for so many in our home state,” said Jeff Moyer, CEO Rodale, in a statement. “Despite the organic food market reaching $55 billion last year, only 1 percent of U.S. cropland is currently organic. Now more than ever, it’s critical that food retailers, farmers and consumers join together to advocate for the food system they want to see—one that heals both people and the planet. The support of a retailer like The Giant Co. will allow Rodale Institute to continue our research, farmer training, consulting and education initiatives to grow the organic movement and build an organic future for all.”
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