Farm Fresh Teams Up with SUDIA for VA/NC Great American Milk Drive

September 6, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       September 6, 2017 For more information, contact: Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. Contact: Mark Farmer ([email protected]), Joel Hall ([email protected]) Phone: 1-800-343-4693 When: Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Farm Fresh Supermarket - Collins Square – 4001 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 24252 Who: Representatives of Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA), MilkPEP/National Dairy Council, Maola Milk and Ice Cream Co., Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Farm Fresh Food and Pharmacy, 93.7 BOB FM and The Cheesecake Factory VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – Farm Fresh^® supermarkets in Virginia and North Carolina are joining with the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) and Maola Milk to kick off the Great American Milk Drive, a month-long effort to supply local food banks with much-needed, nutrient-rich milk. To bring awareness to the effort, Farm Fresh Collins Square (4001 Virginia Beach Blvd.) and The Cheesecake Factory will host a Hunger Action Month event, including The Great American Milk Drive at Farm Fresh, on Sep. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring entertainment, games, prize giveaways, and a live broadcast hosted by 93.7 BOB FM. In addition, the event will highlight the five-year relationship Farm Fresh has had with The Cheesecake Factory in raising peanut butter donations for a local food bank. The event runs in conjunction with Hunger Action Month™, the national Feeding America® initiative that helps Americans take action to fight hunger in their communities. From Sep. 6 to Oct. 3, Farm Fresh stores in Virginia and North Carolina will encourage shoppers to donate a portion of their purchase at checkout to supply the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore with fresh milk, one of the items most requested by Feeding America® food bank clients. “The fight against hunger is important to Farm Fresh all-year long, especially as kids head back to school and prepare for a successful year of learning,” said Michelle Ellis Young, customer service manager for Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, Inc. “Milk is highly desired at Feeding America food banks and we’re proud to be part of this effort to deliver milk and its essential nutrients to kids and families in need right here in Virginia and North Carolina.” Each year, more than 46 million people – including 12 million children – are served by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. Milk is one of the most requested, but least donated items at food banks; meaning children in need may be missing out on high-quality protein and other essential nutrients. On average, people served by food banks receive the equivalent of less than one gallon per person per year. Since 2014, Feeding America has partnered with The Great American Milk Drive to help provide milk to families who would otherwise go without. Thanks to generous contributions made by shoppers and donors across the country, the Great American Milk Drive has delivered more than 1 million gallons of milk (more than 16 million servings) to families in need, including more than 408,000 servings in Virginia and more than 591,000 servings in North Carolina. “Milk is a nutrient powerhouse, providing nine essential nutrients and eight grams of high-quality protein per glass,” said Mark Farmer, director of marketing and partner relations at SUDIA. “Hunger Action Month is a great time to give back to our communities and help provide kids in need in with the good nutrition that powers their learning and growth.” Your donation made in-store or online will help deliver a gallon of milk to a family in need, helping ensure that all children have nutrients they need to power their potential. By entering your ZIP code, you can ensure the milk is delivered to a Feeding America food bank in your community. To schedule on-site interviews/live broadcast or for more information about the event, contact Mark Farmer, SUDIA director of marketing and partner relations, at [email protected] or (678) 205-7409.

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About Southeast Dairy Association On behalf of dairy farm families, the non-profit Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, Inc. (SUDIA) works with schools, health professionals, retailers, dairy processors and the public to promote dairy foods. About Farm Fresh Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy® was founded in 1957 as a neighborhood grocery store providing world class customer service. From the very beginning, community involvement has been an important part of Farm Fresh. Their name was even chosen from entries submitted by local residents. Today, Farm Fresh is recognized as the premier grocer in the Hampton Roads area. Farm Fresh prides itself on providing its customers with competitively-priced products, clean stores, one-stop shopping services, and a large selection of quality national and regional brands. Farm Fresh currently operates stores in Hampton Roads, Franklin, and Richmond, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  About Feeding America Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Unites States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people they serve, educates the public about the problem of hunger, and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. About MilkPEP The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk companies, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. The MilkPEP Board runs the Milk Life campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers about the powerful nutritional benefits of milk – with 9 essential nutrients, including high-quality protein, in each 8-ounce glass. Lowe Campbell Ewald is creative agency for the Milk Life campaign – from America’s milk companies. About National Dairy Council National Dairy Council® (NDC), the non-profit organization founded by dairy farmers, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC is committed to promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.