Publix Partners with Produce for Kids for Healthy Eating Campaign to Benefit Feeding America

News provided by

Inspire PR Group

Jun 15, 2016, 11:55 ET


LAKELAND, FL (PRWEB) June 15, 2016 -- The healthy eating-focused Produce for Kids® campaign with Publix Super Markets launches June 2 and will raise funds for local Feeding America member food banks and offer Publix shoppers healthy meal solutions, recipes and tips. The 2015 campaign was able to supply more than 2.2 million meals* to local families in-need. To date, the Produce for Kids and Publix partnership has raised more than $2.7 million to benefit local charities within the six-state Publix footprint.

The Publix and Produce for Kids campaign, which will run through June 29, is supported by 13 participating fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, representing nearly every major category of fresh produce. Publix grocery shoppers are encouraged to support these brands by eating more nutritious fruits and vegetables. Shoppers can join the Publix Produce for Kids event group on Facebook to receive real-time updates on campaign happenings.

“At Publix, we have a strong charitable mission to help improve the quality of children’s lives in our local communities,” said Maria Brous, media and community relations director for Publix. “We are proud to partner with Produce for Kids on an effort that encourages our shoppers to introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables to their families while supporting local families and children in-need.”

In-store displays and signage, featuring the Produce for Kids and Feeding America logo, will be displayed in Publix produce departments. Signage will direct shoppers to http://www.produceforkids.com/publix, which features more than 300 registered dietitian-approved and family-tested recipes, meal planning tools, grocery store specific campaign details, healthy tips and a chance to win a Publix grocery gift card. Additionally, shoppers will be encouraged to share their own healthy recipes and ideas during the campaign using the hashtag #produceforkids.

“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Publix to educate families about the benefits of eating nutritious produce,” said John Shuman, president of Produce for Kids. “We are extremely proud of the $2.7 million we have raised thus far to support children and families in the Publix market area and are excited to partner again with Publix to help put an end to hunger.”

Suppliers participating in the Publix and Produce for Kids campaign include: Avocados from Mexico - Mexican Hass Avocados; Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit; Brandt/HMC California peaches, plums and nectarines; Coast Tropical Mangos; Crunch Pak® Sliced Apples; Driscoll's® Raspberries; Del Monte Foods® – Fruit Naturals® Cups; Fresh Express® Hearts of Romaine; Minute Maid® - Pure Squeezed Orange Juice; RealSweet® Vidalia® Onions; J & D Produce, Inc. – Little Bear Brand Vidalia® Sweet Onions; Paramount Farms – Wonderful® Pistachios; and Ventura Foods - Marie’s® Dressings.

The campaign will raise funds for local Feeding America member food banks, including: Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Feeding the Gulf Coast (formerly Bay Area Food Bank), Montgomery Area Food Bank, Food Bank of North Alabama, Second Harvest North Florida, Feeding South Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, All Faiths Food Bank, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Golden Harvest Food Bank, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Feeding the Valley Food Bank, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Second Harvest of South Georgia, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, MANNA FoodBank, Food Bank of the Albemarle, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Lowcountry Food Bank, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, Mid-South Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee.

For more information about the Publix and Produce for Kids campaign, visit http://www.produceforkids.com/publix.

*Each $1 donated to the national office of Feeding America during the 2015 campaign provided 11 meals. Produce for Kids and Publix secured $206,845 (2,275,295 meals) through the overall campaign period of March 1, 2015 to February 28, 2016.

# # #

About Produce for Kids®
Produce for Kids® is a philanthropically based 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. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $5.7 million to benefit kids. To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthy eating, visit http://www.produceforkids.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram.

About Publix Co.®
Publix is privately owned and operated by its 180,000 employees, with 2015 sales of $32.4 billion. Currently Publix has 1,116 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company has been named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America” for 19 consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s website, corporate.publix.com.

About Feeding America®
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Samantha Bartlett, Inspire PR Group, +1 614-532-5279, [email protected]