Grocers Pumped for Produce For Kids' 13th Campaign

Participating retailers in Produce for Kids' (PFK) 13th annual campaign are gearing up for the April 24 kickoff of this year's event, which will again be featured in the produce departments of select nationwide grocery stores through July.

Grocery retail partners participating in the Produce for Kids campaign include: Acme Markets; Associated Wholesale Grocers; Country Mart; Homeland; United Super Markets; Meijer; Niemann Foods Inc.; Price Chopper; Publix Super Markets; and Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc.’s Pick n’ Save Copps and Metro Market divisions.

This year's program offers in-store and online meal solutions, recipes and tips for families looking to embrace healthier eating habits. Many stores will host recipe demonstrations and special events featuring characters from "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2."

The Orlando, Fla.-based Produce for Kids campaign, which has raised $5 million for children’s charities since 2002, will again raise funds to benefit charities that support children, including its primary philanthropic partner, Feeding America, as well as other local community children’s organizations.

“It is our mission to educate families about the benefits of eating nutritious produce as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said John Shuman, PFK president. “We are extremely proud of the $5 million we have raised thus far to support local children’s charities and are excited to partner with Feeding America this year to help fight childhood hunger.”

The Produce for Kids campaign will be supported by more than 35 participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, representing every major category of fresh produce. Grocery shoppers are encouraged to purchase more nutritious fruits and vegetables and, in exchange, suppliers will make a donation to Feeding America and other community children’s organizations.

In-store displays and signage will be featured in local grocery produce departments and will list all participating companies. The signage will direct shoppers to www.produceforkids.com, which features more than 200 registered dietitian-approved and family-tested recipes, meal planning tools, grocery store-specific campaign details, and healthy tips from real parents. Shoppers will be encouraged to share their own healthy recipes and ideas during the campaign using the hashtag #produceforkids.