Produce for Kids, PBS Team for Supermarket-based Educational Effort
REIDSVILLE, Ga. -- Produce for Kids (PFK) based here and PBS Kids are joining forces to launch an in-store and online initiative to promote healthy eating and smart food choices through the numerous benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.
The initiative kicks off October 1 with a supermarket-based educational campaign encouraging children to "Eat Smart for a Great Start," and resources and activities on pbskids.org and PBS Parents (pbsparents.org). A portion of the proceeds from the in-store October campaign will go back into PBS's services and programs.
Participating retailers in the fall kick-off campaign include: Meijer, which operates 181 supercenters throughout the Midwest; Publix Super Markets, which operates more than 900 stores in the Southeastern United States; and Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores, LLC, which operates more than 150 stores. Retailers will provide support for the program by providing a per-unit/case donation on designated produce items shipped to retailers during the promotional period.
The campaign will feature Hooper, an animated guinea pig from the PBS Kids preschool destination. Participating grocery stores will bring the fall campaign to life in their stores' produce sections with colorful brochures and displays to help encourage kids to take their own personal steps towards living healthier lifestyles.
To further support these efforts, pbskids.org has created a healthy eating page that will include relevant games, fitness challenges and activities. PBS Parents will feature an extensive area that includes activities and information on how parents can help their children build healthy eating habits.
"This partnership further reinforces PBS Kids' commitment to supporting children's healthy development for success in school and in life and eating right is one component of that," said Andrea Downing, v.p./home entertainment and partnerships for PBS. "With the continued decline in children's health, PBS wants to help families address the challenges that kids face in making smart food choices and be a part of a healthy, lifelong solution."
The initiative kicks off October 1 with a supermarket-based educational campaign encouraging children to "Eat Smart for a Great Start," and resources and activities on pbskids.org and PBS Parents (pbsparents.org). A portion of the proceeds from the in-store October campaign will go back into PBS's services and programs.
Participating retailers in the fall kick-off campaign include: Meijer, which operates 181 supercenters throughout the Midwest; Publix Super Markets, which operates more than 900 stores in the Southeastern United States; and Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant Food Stores, LLC, which operates more than 150 stores. Retailers will provide support for the program by providing a per-unit/case donation on designated produce items shipped to retailers during the promotional period.
The campaign will feature Hooper, an animated guinea pig from the PBS Kids preschool destination. Participating grocery stores will bring the fall campaign to life in their stores' produce sections with colorful brochures and displays to help encourage kids to take their own personal steps towards living healthier lifestyles.
To further support these efforts, pbskids.org has created a healthy eating page that will include relevant games, fitness challenges and activities. PBS Parents will feature an extensive area that includes activities and information on how parents can help their children build healthy eating habits.
"This partnership further reinforces PBS Kids' commitment to supporting children's healthy development for success in school and in life and eating right is one component of that," said Andrea Downing, v.p./home entertainment and partnerships for PBS. "With the continued decline in children's health, PBS wants to help families address the challenges that kids face in making smart food choices and be a part of a healthy, lifelong solution."