Tuesday, March 22nd, Janny MT US donated over 135 bushels of apples to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (FBEM) for distribution to Flint schoolchildren and area residents.
JMT US, a subsidiary of the company Janny MT, made the donation announcement during an event to reveal the results of a six-month quality test of their controlled atmosphere modules. The fresh apples donated to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan will be distributed through the Head Start program and the Food Bank throughout Flint.
“This donation will allow the food bank to provide additional assistance to Flint residents affected by the water crisis. We will also use our commercial kitchen to prepare applesauce for preschool students in the Head Start program,” said Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Director Kara Ross.
The Head Start program provides health, safety and nutrition services to preschool students across Michigan. The food bank works with seven sites in the Genesee Intermediate School District that serve 256 children per day. The food bank also distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to 148 sites in the city of Flint.
“Thanks to the support and generosity of the Michigan community, Janny MT is able to give back to Flint, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to help work with them and Michigan State University to make an impact,” said Brent Forsberg, managing director of the MI Food Innovation District.
The donation will include two varieties of apples – Golden and Ida Red – grown at the Westview Orchards in Romeo, Mich. The apples were harvested just before they reached peak ripeness and placed in JMT cold storage containers at the Michigan State University Horticulture Teaching and Research Center.
“This was the first test completed with Michigan apples and we are very pleased with the results. It showed the apples in the JMT module maintained a high level of freshness over the long term storage period,” said Benoit Janny, Janny MT general manager. “We are thankful for the food bank’s assistance in ensuring these apples are given to those in need.”
