Produce for Kids Promotes Healthy Eating, Helps Feed the Hungry

The 14th annual Produce for Kids campaign kicked off April 29 and is expected to push the organization closer to the 2016 goal of $6 million total raised for charities that support families and children. Produce for Kids is a philanthropic organization that brings the produce industry together to educate consumers about healthy eating with fresh produce and raises funds for local children’s non-profit organizations.

Shoppers will notice Produce for Kids signage next to partner fruit and vegetable brands in the produce departments of select nationwide grocery stores through July. The program offers in-store and online meal solutions as well as recipes and tips for shoppers looking to embrace healthier eating habits. Many stores will host family-friendly recipe demonstrations featuring partners’ items.

Campaigns will raise funds to benefit local charities that support families and children, including Produce for Kids’ primary philanthropic partner Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. All funds raised stay local and go back to organizations within the grocers’ footprint.

“Our flagship in-store campaigns, as well as each and every program we develop at Produce for Kids, has an aspect of giving back. It’s the foundation on which Produce for Kids was built,” said John Shuman, president of Produce for Kids. “We are approaching a $6 million raised milestone, which would not have been possible without our dedicated retail and produce company partners. Together we have made quite an impact in these local communities.”

The Produce for Kids campaign is supported by more than 32 participating produce suppliers, representing nearly 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 organizations.

In-store displays and signage, driving home the healthy eating message, displayed in local grocery produce departments list all participating companies. The signage directs shoppers to the Produce for Kids website, which features more than 250 registered dietitian-approved and family-tested recipes, meal planning tools, grocery store specific campaign details, and healthy tips from real parents. Shoppers are encouraged to share their own healthy recipes and ideas during the campaign using the hashtag #produceforkids.

“Our in-store campaign, this April through July, allows Produce for Kids to offer healthy eating resources to shoppers in nearly 2,000 grocery stores,” continued Shuman. “Right when families are gearing up for warmer weather and fresh options, we are in that space to encourage sales of produce items.”

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

For more information about the Produce for Kids campaign, visit www.produceforkids.com.

For more information about Feeding America, visit www.feedingamerica.org.