Whippany-based life sciences enterprise Bayer and Hunterdon County-based nonprofit America’s Grow-a-Row have extended their long-standing partnership aimed at combating regional food insecurity.
Through financial contributions and corporate volunteer initiatives, the ongoing collaboration has delivered 5.5 million servings of fresh, healthy produce to under-resourced families and food banks across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and surrounding states.
As part of the 2026 initiative, more than 200 Bayer employees from the company’s New Jersey U.S. headquarters and Pennsylvania operating sites participated in hands-on gleaning days at America’s Grow-a-Row’s farms on Aug. 27 and Oct. 1.
During the two harvest sessions, volunteers gathered 165,500 pounds of fresh produce, equivalent to approximately 662,000 individual servings.
The October volunteer effort focused heavily on winter crops, yielding 140,000 pounds of winter squash (560,000 servings) designated for direct delivery to regional food pantries, hunger relief networks, and soup kitchens across all 21 New Jersey counties.
“Our longstanding partnership with America’s Grow-a-Row brings Bayer’s mission of ‘Health for all, Hunger for none’ to life in a very tangible way,” Trevor Thrun, President of Bayer’s U.S. Consumer Health business, said. “Through this partnership, Bayer has contributed 5.5 million servings of fresh produce to families in need to-date. It’s a powerful example of the meaningful impact we can make when we come together to support the communities where we live and work.”
The hands-on employee volunteering is backed by sustained capital grants from the Bayer Fund, the philanthropic arm of Bayer in the United States.
Since 2020, the foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in direct grants to support America’s Grow-a-Row’s agricultural logistics, sustainable farming infrastructure, and Free Farm Market programs.
“Bayer employees from our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices harvested 140,000 pounds of winter squash at America’s Grow-a-Row, providing 560,000 servings of fresh, healthy produce for distribution to food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens in the region,” Susan Anderson, Director of Philanthropy and Community Impact at Bayer said. “Nearly 200 Bayer employees joined the effort this year, learning firsthand about the important work America’s Grow-a-Row is doing to address food insecurity.”
Founded in 2002 by Chip Paillex and his daughter Kyra as a small garden project, America’s Grow-a-Row has scaled dramatically over 24 years.
Operating on 423 acres of preserved farmland in Pittstown, the nonprofit anticipates harvesting and donating 4.3 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in 2026.
In addition to providing farm-fresh produce to hunger relief organizations, the non-profit conducts hands-on nutrition education courses empowering families to prepare low-cost, nutrient-dense meals on limited budgets.
