With Only 18 Percent of Children Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables, Publix and Produce for Kids® Launch Campaign to Support Kids. The Campaign will raise money for Children’s Miracle Network® hospitals while helping to educate kids and parents on the benefits of a healthy diet.

(LAKELAND, Fla.) – May 28, 2008 – Publix Super Markets and Produce for Kids® (PFK), an organization that promotes the benefits of healthy eating and supports worthy causes for children, today unveiled the “Get Healthy, Give Hope” campaign, a spring initiative that will raise money for local Children’s Miracle Network® (CMN) hospitals and encourage parents to add more fruits and vegetables to their kids’ diets. A Produce for Kids national research study released earlier this month revealed that only 18 percent of America’s children are eating the recommended three or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and 43 percent of kids have one or less daily serving of fresh produce. The study also showed that parents spend an average of just $103 per year on fruits – or $2.00 per week – and $114.62 on vegetables.

Encompassing over 930 stores in the Southeast, the campaign will start on June 5 and run through July 2. “Get Healthy, Give Hope” sponsors Country FreshTM Vegetable Platters; Crunch Pak® Sliced Apples; Del Monte Gold® Extra Sweet Pineapple; DOLE® Packaged Salads; Odwalla® Beverages; Shuman Produce’s REALSWEET® brand Vidalia® Onions and Tropicana® Pure Premium® Orange Juice will make a monetary donation for every fresh produce item purchased during the campaign. One hundred percent of the funds raised will benefit Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.

The campaign will introduce three new eye-catching characters, or “Fresh Idols” – Vita MC, Mindee Melon and Sammy Snax – who will appear on point-of-sale materials in every Publix store. With the Produce for Kids survey indicating that snacking is by far the most popular way for kids to eat fresh fruit, the Fresh Idols highlight fresh produce as a fun, fast, convenient and healthy snack alternative. Kids can vote for their favorite Fresh Idols at www.produceforkids.org – a colorful, interactive website offering contests, healthy eating tips, games, recipes and more. “There can be no more important cause than the health and happiness of our kids,” said John Shuman, president of Produce for Kids. “By working with Publix to support the Children’s Miracle Network with this fun, high-profile campaign, we are helping to ensure that kids in need get the best medical care – and make it easier for parents to rebalance their kids’ diets by adding more fresh produce.” “Produce for Kids has provided our company with a really great outlet through which to give back to our community,” said Maria Brous, director of media and community relations for Publix. “Our consumers can not only teach their children about a healthy eating lifestyle while they shop, but also contribute to our local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.” About Produce for Kids Produce for Kids® promotes healthy lifestyles for children by educating kids and parents about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables while also supporting worthy children’s causes. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $1.2 million for local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Produce for Kids also partners with PBS KIDS® to educate parents on healthy eating and raises funds for public broadcasting. For additional information on Produce for Kids, visit www.produceforkids.org. About Publix Based in Lakeland, FL, Publix Super Markets operates stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee with more than 930 supermarkets. Founded in 1930, Publix is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Additional information about Publix can be found at www.publix.com. About Children's Miracle Network Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.