LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Stonyfield Farm, (www.stonyfield.com), the world's leading organic yogurt company, has launched a "Just Eat Organic!" year-long organic education campaign, with two efforts designed to get people talking about organic: "Just Eat Organic" (www.justeatorganic.com), a music video by Stonyfield President & CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg, and "The Organic Moment," (www.yourorganicmoment.com), an online space for people to share personal stories about what organic means to them.
"These past few months ignited an important – and sometimes challenging – dialogue around organic. The recent USDA decision to allow the growing of genetically engineered alfalfa dealt a blow to organic, but it has also brought about an impassioned focus on the benefits of organic foods," said Hirshberg. "Now, more than ever, is the time for organic consumers to choose the foods they eat and feed their families. It is also the time to share our reasons and stories with others, and to inspire others to do the same."
Hirshberg's "Just Eat Organic" rap video tells the story of America's switch from family farms to modern agriculture, which let "Big Agriculture" profit while consumers got addicted to convenient foods that are bad for their health. As Hirshberg raps, "Cancer rates are steadily rising, in kids and moms and dads. A baby born in Birmingham, Boise, Bend or Boston, now has in her cord blood almost 300 toxins. The U.S. Cancer Panel Study makes me ill at ease 'cause 41 percent of us will get this disease. Cut out unnecessary chemicals is what they prescribe. So to avoid getting sick, just change the stuff you imbibe!"
"The Stonyfield Moms," three employee volunteers, rap the upbeat chorus, "So if you love your body, love your children and you love your planet, there is hope for the future, so there's no need to panic. The solution is a simple one. It's easy to understand it. To protect your family, body and earth… just eat organic!" Consumers send in their own "Just Eat Organic!" shout-outs, and suggest additional lyrics for "Just Eat Organic." See it on (www.justeatorganic.com).
Stonyfield is collaborating with Honest Tea, which produced a similar music video called "Just Drink Organic," on a contest in honor of Earth Month. Create a video for an opportunity to win $1,000 and a month's supply of Stonyfield yogurt and Honest Tea. For details, visit www.justdrinkorganic.com.
Stonyfield is also rolling out a new visual and interactive digital platform called "The Organic Moment" (www.yourorganicmoment.com) to bring people together around why we eat organic. Said Hirshberg, "Everyone who believes organic is important can add their own voice to The Organic Moment conversation and join the larger community of organic eaters. Our goal is to get people talking about organic."
"The Organic Moment" features stories from individuals, groups, families, companies – everyone who believes in organic. They share stories about what inspired them to start eating organic, how organic changed their lives and why organic is important. Storytellers include Robbert Kenner, director of Food, Inc.; Dr. Bill Sears, noted pediatrician and book author; Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D., "the food sleuth"; Kate Geagan, M.S., R.D., "America's green nutritionist"; Laurie David, Producer and Author of The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time; Chris Elam, Founder of Meatless Monday; and Chef Ann Cooper, "renegade school lunch lady", among others.
Everyone is invited to send in their stories as texts, photos or no-fuss videos, like Flip cam, web cam, or mobile cam. All storytellers will be entered to win one year's worth of organic groceries from Stonyfield and other leading organic brands, including Annie's, Happy Baby, Grandy Oats Granola, Honest Tea, Late July, Nature's Path, Organic Valley and Theo's Chocolate.
Site visitors can view all of the organic stories, learn more about organic and share their experiences through fun polls. They can comment and "like" other people's stories, view featured stories, and get to know the farmers and organic companies that provide the organic food we eat.
About Stonyfield Farm
Stonyfield Farm, celebrating its 28th year, is the world's leading organic yogurt company. Its all natural and certified organic yogurt, smoothies, milk, cultured soy, frozen yogurt and ice cream are distributed nationally. The company advocates that healthy food can only come from a healthy planet. Its use of organic ingredients helps keep over 180,000 farm acres free of toxic, persistent pesticides and chemical fertilizers known to contaminate soil, drinking water and food. To help reduce climate change, Stonyfield offsets all of the CO2 emissions generated from its facility energy use. The company also started a nonprofit called Climate Counts (climatecounts.org) which shows people how they can help fight climate change by the way they shop and invest. Stonyfield also donates 10% of its profits to efforts that help protect and restore the Earth. For more information about Stonyfield and its organic dairy products, please visit: www.stonyfield.com.
Source: Stonyfield Farm
