Mr. Peanut Goes to Washington!

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Planters 2011 "Naturally Remarkable" Tour, Mr. Peanut arrives in Washington, D.C. -- by way of his new biodiesel Nutmobile -- to open a new urban park, a Planters Grove, in Northeast D.C.  U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and other local dignitaries join Mr. Peanut and community members to celebrate the new park on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 with a day of volunteer planting.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110711/NY32236 )

The Washington, D.C. Planters Grove -- located at 50th Street and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE -- is the second of three peanut-shaped urban parks to be built in the U.S. this year in partnership with The Corps Network, the national member organization for Service and Conservation Corps.  As part of its Tour, Planters is transforming underdeveloped and underutilized urban land into vibrant, green spaces in an effort to advance the brand's values of healthy lifestyles and sustainability.  

"Peanuts are truly a 'naturally remarkable' food.  They have a rich American heritage and, in many ways, are both good for you and good for the earth," said Scott Marcus, Senior Brand Manager, Planters.  "Planters is excited to work with the local D.C. community to create a natural space in our nation's capital that celebrates the peanut and promotes healthy living and sustainability."

Ken Smith Designed, D.C. Influenced

Designed by renowned landscape architect Ken Smith, Planters Groves are part urban revitalization, part urban art.  Each Planters Grove features unique elements that promote sustainability and reflect the neighborhood's unique culture and heritage.  The Washington, D.C. Planters Grove includes:

• 39 newly-planted fruit and nut trees, in addition to 67 serviceberry trees, which expand Washington, D.C.'s tree canopy, as well as provide health and environmental benefits to local residents such as improved air quality and lower summer air temperature    
• A border of reclaimed porch columns frames the park's unique peanut-shape and highlights the neighborhood's "front porch" culture
• A rainwater garden collects storm water excess and helps decrease the amount of pollution reaching the adjacent stream
• Azaleas incorporated into the park's design note the beginning of America's urban environmental movement, which began when Lady Bird Johnson responded to the plea of local eight-year-old John Hatcher for azalea bushes for his housing development

The Washington, D.C. Planters Grove builds upon recent efforts by the D.C. Department of Parks & Recreation to redevelop the broader Marvin Gaye Park corridor into a hub of outdoor recreation, civic participation and public-private partnership.  Additionally, the Planters Grove complements the D.C. Department of Transportation's sustainable streetscape improvement project currently underway.

"The Planters Grove is a welcome addition to a location that has deep historical and cultural significance and fits in perfectly with the District's goals of providing healthy lifestyle choices for residents of all ages for generations to come," said Jesús Aguirre, Director of the D.C. Department of Parks & Recreation.

The Planters Grove was brought to life by The Corps Network; local Corps members including Washington Parks & People, Earth Conservation Corps and the Student Conservation Association; and ECoRE.  These local Corps members will lead the ongoing maintenance, programming and seasonal planting of the Planters Grove.

Sally Prouty, President and CEO of The Corps Network remarked, "The Planters Grove now takes its place as a nexus of neighborhood revitalization, community service and outdoor activity.  Our work with Planters is proof that public-private partnerships can seed community transformation and growth."

To follow the Planters "Naturally Remarkable" tour and see pictures of Mr. Peanut's trip to Washington, D.C., "Like" Mr. Peanut on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mrpeanut.

About Planters: Planters, America's leading snack nut brand, has a long history of pioneering industry firsts. This inventiveness is delivered through a diverse portfolio of nutritious and delicious plant-based snacks such as peanuts, cashews, almonds and other nuts. Planters NUT•rition offers a distinctive line of nut mixes that focus on specific nutritional needs. Planters almonds and pistachios are roasted with real herbs and spices, delivering extraordinary flavor. Planters Trail Mix blends roasted nuts, delicious fruit and other wholesome ingredients to help fuel an active lifestyle.

About Planters Sustainability: Planters has made considerable investments in greening their facilities through energy and water conservation, as well as waste reduction. As part of its brand citizenship, Planters has committed, in collaboration with The Corps Network, to developing green, natural spaces called Planters Groves across the U.S. The brand's commitment to nut farmers is extended through the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), an initiative to improve cashew production, sustainability practices and increase the cashew-related income of 150,000 cashew farmers by 2012.

About Kraft Foods: Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2010 revenue of $49.2 billion, more than half of which was earned outside North America. Twelve of the company's iconic brands -- including Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident and Tang -- generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually, and 40 have been loved for more than a century. A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more information, visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.

About The Corps Network: Established in 1985, The Corps Network is the voice of the nation's 158 Service and Conservation Corps. Currently operating in 46 states and the District of Columbia, Corps annually enroll more than 33,000 young men and women in service every year. Corps annually mobilize approximately 265,000 community volunteers who in conjunction with Corpsmembers generate 15.3 million hours of service every year. Today's Corps, inheritors of the legacy of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps, enable Corpsmembers to improve community and the environment through programs including Civic Justice Corps, Public Lands Corps, Clean Energy Service Corps, and Corps Respond. By serving their nation, Corpsmembers gain abilities that last a lifetime, including work readiness, educational advancement, civic engagement, and the ability to make responsible choices.

SOURCE Kraft Foods