Chef Roy Choi Teams Up With LG Electronics to Support Los Angeles Non-Profit 'RootDown LA' With LG Kitchen Appliances

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Teaming up with renowned local Chef Roy Choi, LG Electronics USA is providing three full suites of kitchen appliances to RootDown LA, a Project of Community Partners, for its landmark healthy food programming.  This program trains high school students to build demand for, and increase supplies of fresh produce in their communities.

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LA-based Chef Choi, credited with jumpstarting the food-truck craze, has been a long-time supporter of RootDown LA, assisting in their programming that gets kids to cook and eat more veggies.  Choi understands the importance of programs like RootDown LA that offer experiential, hands-on learning that allows young people to explore their creativity and figure out ways in which they can help create healthy food enterprises.

"Community is what you make of it, and RootDown LA is supporting the South LA area by helping to reinforce an interest in the strong food culture that already exists in LA and encourage healthy cooking on a daily basis," said Chef Choi. "Today's youth needs resources and programs that let them explore their creativity and express their emotions.  LG's donation provides us with tools that will enhance our efforts to share our culinary skills with students for the benefit of our entire community."

The donation included three full kitchen suites including each of the following LG kitchen appliances:

Super-Capacity French-Door Refrigerator (LFX31925):    LG's newest French-door refrigerator offers 31 cubic feet of capacity – the largest capacity in its class –  with six more cubic feet of space than standard models of the same footprint.  This gives students ample space to store pounds of produce grown in the organization's backyard before distributing the supply to those in need.  LG's Smart Cooling Plus System also maintains optimal humidity and temperature levels to help ensure food stays fresher, longer.

30-inch Electric Induction Cooktop (LCE30845):    LG's induction cooktop offers SmoothTouch™ controls to adjust the settings with the touch of a finger.  With LG's induction cooktops, only the pan is heated – not the ceramic cooktop surface – so spills won't burn into the cooktop and the surface remains safe to the touch – perfect for student chefs.  The cooktop includes a premium-grade griddle and a 100 percent induction bridge element that allows the two left heating elements to be joined, allowing easy, even heating of longer pans and griddles.  This model also offers modern design with a premium stainless steel trim that frames the four cooking elements.

Built-In Double Wall Oven (LWD3081):    LG's built-in double wall oven offers premium performance with a capacity of 4.7 cubic feet, one of the largest in the industry.  Students can take advantage of features like LG's dual true convection system that enables up to 30 percent faster preheat times* and more even heat distribution, and the pre-loaded gourmet recipe bank including recipe choices across 10 food categories, which can provide inspiration to any aspiring student chef.

"By enhancing RootDown LA's educational program with state-of-the-art kitchens that offer great performance features, LG is helping the local youth to build a healthier community," said Ellis Mass, Director of Brand Communications, Home Appliances, LG Electronics USA.  "We are happy to provide such a deserving organization with the right tools and equipment to cook up something better in the kitchen."

RootDown LA confronts obesity and related health issues in South Los Angeles by encouraging high school youth to eat better and engaging them in the educational experiences and skills training necessary to help build healthier communities. RootDown LA aims to create nutrition and cooking lessons that are relevant and actionable for today's urban populations such as building demand for healthy food.

"Our organization focuses on educating youth on healthy cooking and eating habits so they can share that knowledge to strengthen the local community," explains Megan Hanson, Project Co-Leader, RootDown LA. "LG's advanced kitchen appliances will help us teach culinary skills with cutting-edge technology and invigorate enthusiasm among the students."

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $48 billion global force and technology leader in home appliances, consumer electronics and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home appliances, entertainment products, mobile phones, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

About RootDown LA

RootDown confronts obesity and related health issues in South Los Angeles by first convincing high school youth to eat their veggies, then engaging them in the educational experiences and skills training necessary to help build healthier food communities. The organization builds demand for healthy food in urban areas so that those farmers and food producers who can supply it will have new and stronger markets. In 2010, in partnership with WECAN's Urban Food Forest, RootDown LA started creating its own supply of healthy food in South Los Angeles. Their goal is to expand programming to other urban California communities.

*Based on testing results comparing a standard LG convection range to the dual convection range (325 degree F) mode.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA