Meijer, Produce for Kids Sponsor Nutrition Education Shows

Thanks to the partnership of Midwestern superstore retailer Meijer and the Produce for Kids campaign, the world's only rock-and-roll nutrition show is touring schools across the region.

Donations made by participating produce suppliers during last fall's campaign totaled $60,000 and allowed the Jump with Jill program to take place in 27 schools in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

“In partnering with Produce for Kids, we’re able to help educate our customers about the importance of making healthy food choices,” said Shari Steinbach, Meijer's lead dietitian and healthy living manager. “Through the Produce for Kids campaign, we’re extending our reach further to educate students in schools by supporting Jump with Jill and its mission to teach nutrition to kids.”

Jump with Jill performers engage kids through music on the subject of health with the goal of empowering them to eat better. Accordingly, Mejier offers a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables, making it easier for families to live out what they learned from the Jump with Jill program.

“It is tremendous to see the funds from the Meijer campaign utilized in this way,” said John Shuman, president of Produce for Kids. “It was my original vision that Produce for Kids serve as a conduit for the produce industry to give back to local communities, and this is the perfect example of those funds at work.”

Participating suppliers are Bolthouse Farms, Dole, Highline Mushrooms, Mariani Packing Co., Michigan Apple Committee, Potandon Produce, Stemilt Growers, Sunset Campari, T. Marzetti Co., Westmoreland Sales and Pom Wonderful.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer operates 213 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.