Feeding America Leaders Tour the MARC, Highlight Role of Regional Co-ops

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Cooperative (MARC) recently welcomed national leadership from Feeding America for an on-the-ground look at how regional collaboration is strengthening the charitable food supply chain.

Chief Supply Chain Officer Brit Videbeck and Manager of Regional Agri Sourcing and Sharing Jesslyn Hill visited the MARC’s new warehouse facility in Swedesboro, New Jersey, where they saw firsthand how the cooperative sources, sorts, and distributes fresh produce across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The visit also included a stop at member food bank Philabundance, offering a full view of how MARC’s work supports food banks and the communities they serve.

Notably, the visit coincided with Feeding America’s mid-year update, which Brit and Jesslyn joined directly from the MARC facility. During the call, they highlighted their visit in real time, sharing insights with partners across the country about how the MARC’s model is advancing regional sourcing and strengthening the supply chain.

As a regional cooperative and a program of Feeding Pennsylvania, the MARC plays a critical role in the broader charitable food network. By aggregating surplus product and redistributing it through a customized sorting and packing model, MARC helps food banks expand variety, improve consistency, and stretch limited resources further.

Moments like this reinforce the growing importance of regional cooperatives within Feeding America’s network. By connecting local supply with regional demand, co-ops like the MARC serve as a vital link—ensuring fresh, nutritious food moves efficiently from farms and distributors to neighbors who need it most.

The MARC is proud to help lead this work and looks forward to continued collaboration across the network to strengthen food access for communities throughout the region.