C&K Market’s Ray’s Food Place Stores and organic foods supplier Organic Valley have teamed up to create a new shopper rewards program that gives customers EcoUnit credits that can be redeemed to support local stewardship projects like tree planting, river restoration, removal of invasive species and watershed cleanup.

The two companies worked with San Francisco-based sustainability rewards solutions provider EcoUnit on the program. EcoUnit develops programs are designed to motivate consumers to make eco-smart choices at the grocery store. Participating consumers earn EcoUnit credits, which can be redeemed for support of local environmental projects.

“We believe this partnership is a great fit for our company and our commitment to supporting the communities that we are a part of,” said Greg Sandeno, VP and COO of Brookings, Ore.-based C&K Market, Inc., parent company of Ray’s. “Together with Organic Valley and EcoUnit, Ray’s is doing its part to work towards a sustainable future for our families.”

Through the end of this year, a purchase of any Organic Valley product from Ray’s will earn shoppers EcoUnit credits that they can redeem to support the local projects of their choice, such as willow tree planting along Hay Creek, a lower tributary of Oregon’s John Day River; restoring the Deschutes River basin habitat; reviving and protecting the salmon runs of California’s Blue Creek and Klamath River; or cedar-tree planting efforts along Oregon’s Elk River.

In addition, Ray’s shoppers who participate in the EcoUnit promotion will also be eligible to enter to win one of three prizes of a year’s worth of free Organic Valley dairy products.

Family-owned C&K Market operates approximately 60 grocery stores under the banners of Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart and Price Less Foods. Organic Valley, a cooperative of family farmer-owners, is based in La Farge, Wis.