Bayer and Dollar General Promote Access to Fruits and Vegetables

• Partnership will aim to provide families with awareness of and access to fresh produce and nutritional supplements outside of school
• Bayer and Dollar General will work with the International Fresh Produce Association to distribute coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables and nutritional supplements to schools 

Bayer and Dollar General are again partnering to improve access to fresh produce for K-12 students and their families. The partnership, which coincides with National School Lunch Week October 14-18, provides students with coupons for fresh produce, nutritional supplements like vitamins and over the counter medications, helping make nutritious options more affordable to families outside of school.

National School Lunch Week celebrates the importance of a healthy school lunch and the role of school nutrition professionals to provide well-balanced meals to students throughout the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one in five children live in households without consistent access to adequate food. School lunches play an important role in providing children with nutritious meals.

Dollar General and Bayer are working to extend access to nutrition to students once they leave school. Approximately 75% of Americans live within five miles of a Dollar General and more than 5,400 Dollar Generals offer fresh produce. For the second year, Dollar General and Bayer are offering children and families discount coupons to help save on purchases of fresh produce, vitamins and over the counter medications at Dollar General stores.

“School lunch programs do a great job of providing students with nutritious meals, but it’s important we find a way to also help ensure they have access to nutrition at home,” said Inci Dannenberg, Head of Bayer’s Vegetables business. “This partnership with Dollar General underscores our commitment to Health for All, Hunger for None as we work to continue to increase access to fruits and vegetables around the globe.”

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) works with school nutrition programs around the country to help increase children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables and plans to work with schools to facilitate the distribution of the coupons. Students will receive coupons for fresh produce at DG, as well as Bayer’s vitamin supplements.

“Schools are important partners, when it comes to introducing students to fruits and vegetables,” said Andrew Marshall, wholesaler-distributor relations and external partnerships, International Fresh Produce Association. “School nutrition programs are often the largest ‘restaurant’ in their respective communities, and it’s not uncommon to partner on efforts that support the health and well-being of their students and families.  We’re proud to help facilitate in this opportunity.”

"At Dollar General, we're committed to breaking down barriers to affordable food access, particularly in communities overlooked or underserved by others," shared Allen Warch, Vice President/DMM, Food and Fresh, Dollar General. "Our partnership with Bayer and the IFPA isn't just a collaboration, it's a shared passion to extend our reach beyond the store aisles and into the classrooms, ensuring every child has access to nutritious produce and vital vitamin supplements beyond the school walls. We believe nurturing the next generation's health is the most genuine service we can offer."

As a global leader in agriculture and health, Bayer is committed to helping enable access to healthy and affordable food as well as essential vitamins and minerals through nutritional supplements. The Dollar General partnership supports Bayer’s Nutrient Gap Initiative, which aims to expand access to fruits, vegetables and supplements in underserved communities. 

Pictured above: Inci Dannenberg and Jenny Maloney from Bayer Vegetable Seeds; Allen Warch, Bill Pollard, and Dan Hoelter from Dollar General; Andrew Marshall and Joe Watson from IFPA; and representatives from various School Districts, including: Houston Independent School District, Cypress-Fairbanks School District (TX), Fulton County Public Schools (GA), Nashville Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Richmond City Public Schools.