Retailers Push Produce for Kids Past $1 Million Milestone

REIDSVILLE, Ga. -- The 2007 spring campaign of Produce for Kids here has set a new fundraising record of over $415,000 and generated more than $1 million in total donations since the program began in 2002.

The increased participation and support of the produce industry, which includes our supermarket retailers and sponsors, is enabling Produce for Kids -- an organization that promotes the benefits of healthy eating while raising funds for Children's Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals nationwide – to make a real difference, not only in the daily diets of children, but also in the lives of those children who have serious medical needs, said John Shuman, president of Shuman Produce Inc., and founder of Produce for Kids.

This national program promotes the importance of adding more fruits and vegetables to children's daily diets while benefiting Children's Miracle Network hospitals serving local communities. Critical to the success of the campaign is the commitment of industry partners and the growing list of participating companies.

Eight retail chains, representing nearly, 2,000 stores and 23 states, along with more than 30 sponsors participated in this year's effort, among which include: Acme Markets, Giant Food Stores/Carlisle division, Tops Markets, Harris Teeter, Kroger (Southwest Division), Meijer, Price Chopper and Publix Super Markets.

Sponsors of Produce for Kids include Chelan Fresh Apples; Chiquita
Fresh-Cut Fruit and Minis; Country Fresh Vegetable Platters/ Cut Vegetable Packs; Country Fresh Mushroom Co.; Custom Pak Cherry Berry Grape Tomatoes; Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet Whole and Fresh Cut Pineapple; Dole Fresh Packaged Salads; Dole Fresh Fruit Tropical Gold Pineapple; Driscoll's Raspberries; Eat Smart Mixed Vegetables; Eurofresh Farms; Everybody's Nuts Pistachios; Family Tree Farms; Foxy Produce Romaine Hearts; Fresh Express Packaged Salads; Green Giant Red Potatoes; Masser Potatoes; The National Mango Board; NatureSweet Vine Ripened Cherry Tomatoes; Olivia's Organics; Oppenheimer Kiwifruit; Pacific Trellis Fruit Grapes; Santa Sweets Grape Tomatoes; Shuman Produce's REALSWEET brand Vidalia Onions; Stemilt Growers; Summeripe Peaches, Plums and Nectarines; Superfresh Growers Apples; T. Marzetti, and Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice products.

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