Dole Packaged Foods joins ShopRite, the Greater Newark Conservancy and Captain Planet Foundation to celebrate Project Learning Garden at Camden Street School in Newark, NJ
May 20, 2015 – Newark, NJ - - Today, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Cami Anderson and ShopRite of Newark owner Neil Greenstein were joined by executives from Dole Packaged Foods, the Captain Planet Foundation, the Greater Newark Conservancy and Camden Street School officials to inaugurate a Project Learning Garden at the school. These organizations collaborated to offer students the opportunity to interact with the environment through a learning garden, while expanding their palates and learning about food origins.
Camden Street School was awarded the Learning Garden by submitting an application to the Captain Planet Foundation. Dole committed its resources to the effort in conjunction with a recently completed Earth Day program with ShopRite stores. Project Learning Garden is part of a larger effort to increase services in Newark and was awarded in conjunction with the new ShopRite that will open in Newark later this summer.
“Here at Dole, we understand the importance of teaching children the benefits of incorporating fruits and vegetables into their diet, whether they are enjoying fresh produce from their learning garden, or a healthy Dole snack,” said Larry White, Vice President – Sales, Dole Packaged Foods. “By partnering with Captain Planet Foundation and ShopRite, we are helping more students learn about and develop healthy habits.”
“Anything can be taught in the context of the garden, and hands-on learning supports student understanding of natural systems, food origins, and healthy eating,” explained Leesa Carter, Executive Director of Captain Planet Foundation. “Captain Planet Foundation is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards, and ensuring they are armed with an understanding of the natural world in which they live. We are thrilled to be working with Shoprite, Dole and the Greater Newark Conservancy to provide Camden Street School with a CPF Learning Garden!”
“We are thrilled to partner with Dole to provide this Learning Garden to Camden Street School,“ said Neil Greenstein, owner, future ShopRite of Newark. ” At ShopRite we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of the life for the families we serve, especially children, through education around nutrition and healthy living. Giving back to our neighborhoods is incredibly important to us, and we are proud to be opening a new store in Newark later this summer and to becoming the community’s supermarket with a heart.
“It’s natural that improving health outcomes should start with our youngest citizens, and the new garden at Camden Street School will help bring science to life for students and faculty alike,” added Robin Dougherty, the Conservancy’s Executive Director. “For over 20 years, we’ve found that school gardens can extend the green footprint of environmental education and become vital tools that help children learn about, experience and develop a lifelong love for fresh fruits and vegetables. We are pleased that ShopRite will be the new neighbor to our Judith L. Shipley Urban Environmental Center on Prince Street and we are delighted that ShopRite, Dole and Captain Planet Foundation have partnered with us to bring another school garden to Newark.”
“When it comes to eating habits, we often defer to what’s familiar, not necessarily what’s healthy. Camden Street School wishes to inspire kids to make healthy eating commonplace and familiar. We have to change what’s seen and start remaking what our kids experience. We have to change their reality based on how that reality looks, how that reality feels, and the opportunities that reality affords them. We pledge to give them the skills they need to achieve their dreams and give them a hope that they can see that new reality here. That reality looks different, it feels different, and that difference gives these kids hope for change. It’s about being transformative. How do we transform our reality? That transformation should be seen and experienced in order for people to see the new reality. Camden Street School’s goal is to be a school that transforms its community,” said Sam Garrison, Principal of Camden Street School.
About Camden Street School
Commitment to Achievement, Making the Dream of Every child a New reality. All students at Camden Street School will be provided with the skills they need to achieve their dreams and to challenge themselves to become innovative, high achievers who will use all available resources to positively impact their world as global citizens. Camden Street School Teacher’s Pledge: “I pledge to know and respect my students and to provide them with the skills they need to achieve their dreams!” The Camden Family Values that guide staff and students at Camden Street School are: Commit to success, Achieve your best, Make it happen, Dream big, Everyone deserves respect/ encourage others, and Never quit.
About Dole Packaged Foods
Dole Packaged Foods LLC, a subsidiary of Dole International Holdings, is a leader in sourcing, processing, distributing and marketing fruit products and healthy snacks throughout the world. Dole markets a full line of canned, jarred, cup, frozen and dried fruit products and is an innovator in new forms of packaging and processing fruit and vegetables. For more information please visit dolesunshine.com
