Sharing a common goal to preserve the health of today’s children
and future generations, Earthbound Farm of San Juan Bautista and
other organic/natural food companies have partnered with the
Children’s Health Environmental Coalition to encourage people to
learn more about children’s health.
Sharing a common goal to preserve the health of today’s children and future generations, Earthbound Farm of San Juan Bautista and other organic/natural food companies have partnered with the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition to encourage people to learn more about children’s health.
Spearheaded by Earthbound Farm, the CHEC campaign promoting the benefits of eating organically and using natural household products runs from May 1 through July 31.
“The health of people and the planet is our main concern and CHEC does such a fantastic job educating parents and public about environmental risks in and around the home,” said Peggy Miars, spokesperson for Earthbound Farm.
The facts are that children eat more fresh fruits and vegetables as a percentage of their body weight than adults do, which is why the negative effects of pesticides are greater to children.
“Obviously, we want to encourage as many people as possible to eat organically,” Miars said. “But especially children because their bodies are still developing and the impacts of pesticides are greater on children than adults.”
Noting that it’s important to reward new members for their support, Miars said participants in the CHEC program will receive educational materials and coupons for free products from organic and natural food companies.
“Naturally, we want people to join out of goodness of heart, but we wanted to have incentives encouraging them to join,” she said. “We want to at least double the CHEC membership base during this time.”
CHEC’s interactive Web site – www.checnet.org – has information regarding toxic dangers and solutions for protecting children in their environment. Parents can tour room-to-room to learn about household environmental problems and solutions.
“They do a lot of education through the Web site,” Miars said.
Organic foods and natural products help keep toxins out of the food supply, homes and the environment, Miars said.
Eventually, Earthbound would like to take its “eat organic” message into schools.
“We’ve been talking about it and hope to come up with a plan later in the year,” Miars said.
Consumer demand for pesticide-free products has allowed the organic food industry to grow. In 2002, sales of organic foods in the U.S. totaled $11 billion, with projected sales of $20 billion by 2005.
“Over the last decade, organic sales have gone up 20 to 25 percent annually,” Miars said. “It was the consumers that made organic so popular in first place.”
To participate in the promotion, consumers can go to www.ebfarm.com, where they will be directed to a secure Web page to join CHEC and learn more about this offer and participating companies.
