Publix Planting Trees to Help Environment

Associates of Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets took part in a Jan. 18 tree planting ceremony to mark the grocer’s donation of more than $105,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation.

The funds will be used to plant more than 100,000 trees along the upper and lower Ocklawaha Watershed of the St. Johns River in north central Florida, which has experienced a major decline in water quality and loss of river and marsh territory since the 1800s. The plantings are expected to help clean the waterways and restore wildlife habitats.

“Reducing our water use through process improvements at our retail and support locations is an important way to minimize our impact on natural resources,” said Publix Director of Media and Community Relations Maria Brous. “Balancing our consumption through strategic collaborations that protect and restore watersheds is another way to make a difference.”

“Thanks to Publix’s long-term commitment, thousands of trees will be planted to protect water resources and restore habitat and beauty to areas that have become impaired and suffered devastation," noted Dan Lambe, president of the Lincoln, Neb.-based Arbor Day Foundation.

Publix operates 1,137 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.