RALEIGH (WTVD) — If food doesn’t sell on grocery store shelves, does that mean it’s thrown away? Not exactly.
Most of the time it is given to the Retail Donation Program.
The program, which benefits the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, has been in operation for almost two decades.
Food bank employees head to the nearly 550 stores across more than 30 counties in the state and fill trucks up with donated frozen foods and fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
RELATED: Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC reminds people to continue giving in 2019
There’s nothing wrong with the donations. Employees said stores just have higher standards, which means the items do not meet what the store has set as “sellable” on the floor.
Stay on top of breaking news stories with the ABC11 News App
Each morning, produce workers inspect fresh foods that are on the shelves. If they don’t meet the standard of the store, they are set aside …