On May 30, Publix Super Markets launched the biannual campaign, Produce For Kids, centered around better-choice eating and consumption of produce while raising funds for Feeding America food banks.
Produce for Kids is entering the 17th year working with Lakeland, Florida-based Publix and produce partners. The campaign touts more than 6.9 million meals donated to families in need and more than $659,000 raised for Feeding America programs that benefit families and children in the areas. Since 2003, the campaign has raised more than $3.2 million for the charities.
“We value our ongoing Publix partnership and wanted to enhance visibility to shoppers this year through redesigned signage and the implementation of our new RealSweet bin wraps,” said John Shuman, founder of Produce for Kids and president of Shuman Farms. “The produce brands who participate in this promotion have a lot to be proud of knowing the $3.2 million impact made in Publix communities over the years.”
To celebrate the campaign, Publix Aprons Cooking School in Jacksonville, Florida, will be hosting a Produce for Kids family event open to the public on June 8. Families will be able to pick up coupons, recipes and promo items from campaign partners and create an easy summer snack fruit tartlet from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
“At Publix, we want to help our customers meet their health and wellness goals by offering a wide variety of produce and meal solutions in our stores,” said Maria Brous, media and community relations director. “We are proud to partner with Produce for Kids on an effort that helps families make better choices to meet their lifestyle needs while supporting our communities.”
The Produce for Kids campaign will run through June 27.
The Publix Produce for Kids partnership has raised more than $3.2 million to benefit local charities within the seven-state Publix footprint since 2002.
Publix is privately owned and operated by its more than 200,000 employees, with 2018 sales of $36.1 billion. Currently, the company has 1,218 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
Feeding America is a hunger-relief organization in the U.S. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, the organization provides meals to more than 46 million people each year.