Eight Retailers Help Produce For Kids Reach Fundraising Milestone

REIDSVILLE, Ga. - In a bid to better promote the advantages of adding more fruits and vegetables to children's daily diets, Produce for Kids (PFK) based here has debuted a new logo, added customized retailer programs and revamped its Web site.

"2007 proudly marks a campaign milestone," said John Shuman, president of Shuman Produce and founder of PFK. "We expect our contribution to the Children's Miracle Network will exceed one million dollars since the inception of Produce for Kids six years ago. Our slogan 'Get Healthy, Give Hope' emulates our goal to teach children the benefits of eating healthy, especially during the current obesity crisis in our country, while helping hospitalized children."

The 2007 PFK spring campaign is supported by eight retail chains representing nearly 2,000 stores, serving 23 states, and over 30 co-sponsors. During the months of May and June, Acme Markets, Giant Food Stores (Carlisle Division), Tops Markets, Harris Teeter, Kroger (Southwest Division), Meijer, Price Chopper and Publix Super Markets will help raise money for Children's Miracle Network hospitals through the PFK program.

What started out as a small effort to raise money for a worthwhile cause has now evolved into what Shuman calls "an amazing program."

The revamped PFK Web site, which launched May 1, has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and interactive. New features include contests, healthy eating tips, games, recipes using sponsors' products and an invitation to join the Healthy Kids Club.

Also new are PFK's individualized programs for participating retailers, each of which gives retailers an opportunity to tailor the program to their individual needs. Customized programs include a PFK produce department in-store scavenger hunt, an outdoor event where kids learn about healthy eating while participating in fun activities and interactive meal demonstrations for kids and parents.

Sponsors of Produce for Kids include Chelan Fresh Apples; Chiquita Fresh-Cut Fruit and Minis; Country Fresh Vegetable Platters/Cut Vegetable Packs; Country Fresh Mushroom Co.; Custom Pak Cherry Berry Grape Tomatoes; Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Whole and Fresh Cut Pineapple; Dole Fresh Packaged Salads and Fresh Fruit Tropical Gold Pineapple; Driscoll's Raspberries; Eat Smart Mixed Vegetables; Eurofresh Farms Tomatoes on the Vine; Everybody's Nuts Pistachios; Family Tree Farms Apricots, Plumcots, Peaches and Nectarines; Foxy Produce Romaine Hearts; Fresh Express Packaged Salads; Green Giant Red Potatoes; Masser Potatoes; The National Mango Board; NatureSweet Vine Ripened Cherry Tomatoes; Olivia's Organics; Oppenheimer Kiwifruit; Pacific Trellis Fruit Grapes; Santa Sweets Grape Tomatoes; Shuman Produce's RealSweet Vidalia Onions; Stemilt Growers Apples, AppleSweets and Cherries; Summeripe Peaches, Plums and Nectarines; Superfresh Growers Apples; T. Marzetti Salad Dressings and Hummus Dips and Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice products.
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