US: Produce for Kids celebrate 10 years

Produce for Kids is excited to celebrate a milestone 10th Birthday in 2012 and everyone is invited to the yearlong celebration full of healthy birthday themed Ideal Meals, PFK website enhancements, innovative social media initiatives, a media partnership with 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout and a new and improved look and branding.

“We have reached two exciting milestones this year – 10 years and $3.7 million dollars raised for children’s non-profit organizations!” said John Shuman, Produce for Kids president. “Produce for Kids can attribute our success to the support of our valued retailer and produce partners. We all share in the mission to support kids and families in our local communities.”

During the 10th Birthday celebration, Produce for Kids Chef, Marshall O’Brien, will be creating all new Ideal Meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner meal options, as well as a new series of healthy desserts to be included in the online recipe bank and in participating grocery stores during the Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign beginning in May.

“In celebration of our 10th Birthday, we are introducing a new look and parent-friendly branding, which includes a new logo,” said Kim Avola, vice president at Produce for Kids. “There will a strong focus this year on consumer brand awareness. Produce for Kids is a promotional campaign, but equally a year-round healthy eating resource for parents.”

PFK will connect with parents through numerous direct channels including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and now Sprout. Sprout, available in over 50 million U.S. homes, is a top network among moms of preschoolers and promotes “Real Life Learning” by using the familiar framework of a preschooler’s day, encouraging learning opportunities found in everyday moments and integrating them into the themes, stories and characters they love.

Produce for Kids will be featured in national television spots on Sprout airing during the campaign, included in the Sprout e-newsletter distributed to over 650,000 subscribers and will also have a presence on their companion website, www.SproutOnline.com, reaching one million visitors monthly.In addition, look for Top 10 Lists authored by Parents on Produce and focused on healthy eating throughout the 10th Birthday year.

Following the ten-year trend of continued retailer support, the upcoming Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign kicking off in May will surpass last year’s record for retailer participation with 19 grocery store retail divisions in over 40 states.

Supermarket partners participating in the 2012 Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign include: Ahold’s GIANT and Martin’s Food Stores, Giant Landover, and Stop & Shop divisions; Associated WholesaleGrocers’ Major Savings, Advantage, Independent, Country Mart, Homeland and United divisions, Kroger’s Southwest, Central, Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic divisions, King Soopers, Smith’s, and Fred Meyer divisions; Meijer Inc.; Price Chopper; and Publix Super Markets.

To learn more about Produce for Kids and healthyeating, visit www.produceforkids.com