Edy's® Fruit Bars Brand Selects Washington D.C.-Area Organization to Receive Fruit Orchard Through Communities Take Root Program

OAKLAND, Calif., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Edy's Fruit Bars* brand has selected Washington D.C.-area based organization ECO City Farms as one of the three organizations hand-picked to receive a fruit orchard as a part of its Communities Take Root program.  The ceremonial fruit orchard planting will be held on June 23, 2012 at ECO City Farms, located at 4913 Crittenden Street, Edmonston, MD 20781.  The planting is open to the public and will feature food, live music and activities, courtesy of Edy's Fruit Bars.  Everyone in the area is encouraged to attend and help support the ceremonial planting.

Now in its third year, Communities Take Root is a nationwide initiative in which people across the United States vote for deserving organizations to receive a fruit orchard.  Recognizing a particular need for fruit trees in the nation's urban environments, this summer, for the first time, the Edy's Fruit Bars brand also hand-selected three orchard locations in addition to those determined by voters.  The brand has selected ECO City Farms organization in Prince George's County, MD, to plant an orchard since access to fresh fruit is limited for some residents.  In fact, Washington D.C. areas with the highest obesity rates also have the highest poverty rates, and healthy, affordable food is difficult to obtain, according to data from the Food Research and Action Center's Food Hardship Report.

"In many communities like the Washington D.C. area, there is a huge disparity between the need for fresh fruit and its availability.  The Edy's brand is proud to do our part to uplift these underserved communities," says Ritu Mathur, Fruit Bars Associate Brand Manager.  "We are thrilled to award ECO City Farms a community fruit orchard, which will have a positive impact on the Washington D.C. area by encouraging healthy eating, improving the neighborhood environment and strengthening the community."

ECO City Farms is an educational, not-for-profit enterprise that is designed to serve as a prototype for sustainable local farming.  Through various strategies and approaches, ECO City Farms educates, creates prototypes and incubates viable food-related income-producing enterprises throughout the Chesapeake foodshed.

"Receiving a fruit orchard courtesy of Edy's Fruit Bars helps us with our mission at ECO City Farms to create models for others on how to produce locally grown organic food in the Washington D.C. area," said Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, CEO of ECO City Farms.  "With this fruit orchard, we will be able to educate others about sustainable farming, healthy eating and active living.  In the D.C. area where access to fresh, local and sustainably grown fruit is limited, the fruit orchard is an invaluable teaching tool and will dramatically impact our community."

Edy's Fruit Bars is once again partnering with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, and strengthen communities.  As an integral part of the Communities Take Root program, the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation sources the trees and leads the planting of each orchard. Its dedicated arborist also provides a workshop for each winning community, teaching citizens how to care for their fruit trees so that they will bear fruit for future generations.

To find out more about Communities Take Root and the entire family of Edy's Fruit Bars flavors, visit www.CommunitiesTakeRoot.com.

*Marketed as Dreyer's® Fruit Bars in the western states and Texas.

About Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company

Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company is part of Nestle USA, and is owned by Nestle S.A. of Vevey, Switzerland, the world's largest nutrition, health and wellness company.  Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company manufactures, markets and distributes a full spectrum of ice cream and frozen snacks.  The company's premium products are marketed under the Dreyer's brand name throughout the Western states and Texas, and under the Edy's® brand name throughout the remainder of the United States.  Brands manufactured or distributed in the United States include Dreyer's/Edy's® Grand, Slow Churned®, Dibs®, MAXX, Fruit Bars, Nestle Crunch®, Drumstick®, Butterfinger®, Toll House®, Push-Up®, Frosty Paws®, Eskimo Pie®, Skinny Cow® and Haagen-Dazs®.  Internationally, the Dreyer's brand extends to select markets in the Far East and the Edy's brand extends to the Caribbean and South America.  For more information on the company, please visit www.dreyersinc.com.

In the U.S., the Haagen-Dazs trademark is licensed to Nestle by General Mills.

About The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.  FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as public schools, city parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, and international hunger relief sites.  FTPF's unique mission, which has been featured in major publications and broadcasts across the country, benefits the environment, human health, and community involvement - all at once!  For more information please visit www.ftpf.org.

CONTACT:

Julie Lyons
Zenzi Communications
760-635-9320
[email protected]

SOURCE Edy's