Aug 14, 2015

USApple announces ‘Buy an Apple, Help a Student’ campaign

This fall, supporting school causes will be as easy as taking a bite out of your favorite apple – thanks to a seasonal consumer education campaign the U.S. apple industry has created to fund classroom projects nationwide.

Launching near the beginning of the new school year and culminating during peak apple harvest season, U.S. Apple Association’s (USApple) Apples for Education: Buy an Apple, Help a Student features the U.S. apple industry and supporting brands pledging financial support to compelling student causes every time individuals snack, snap, tag, and share pictures of themselves enjoying an apple or related product.

Program partners (“Apple Buddies”) include returning supporters of past USApple campaigns, Marzetti, Roth Cheese, and Johnsonville Sausage, and new sponsor KIND Snacks.

“With the backing of these great brands, Apples for Education builds on the time-honored, iconic association between apples and education and will not only encourage consumers to eat apples and apple products, but also contribute to the wellbeing of kids in the classroom,” said Wendy Brannen, director of consumer health and public relations, USApple. “This goodwill campaign — which we hope will become a perennial cause program for our industry — conveys that our industry and apples support not only healthy bodies, but also healthy minds.”

Through Sept. 1, USApple is calling on members of the education community — teachers, counselors, administrators, and so forth — to nominate their unique student causes at Apples4Ed.com.

“We’re requesting members of our industry help spread the word to teachers, school administers and others in the education field across the country so they are aware of this opportunity for project funding,” Brannen said.

As for qualifying projects, Brannen said, “We are seeking diverse causes across multiple states so that our members, program partners, and even retailers have the chance to get involved at the local level and encourage voting in their communities.” Examples of projects would be school gardens, educational field trips, athletic equipment, musical instruments, classroom textbooks, library e-readers, nutrition education programs, and the like.

On Sept. 25 — prior to the beginning of National Apple Month — USApple will unveil its selected nominees on the new Apple4Ed.com microsite, encouraging individuals to:

• SNACK: Grab an apple, applesauce, apple juice or Apple Buddy product
• SNAP: Snap a pic enjoying it
• TAG: Name their favorite nominated school project and tag #Apples4Ed
• SHARE: Share the pic on Apples4Ed.com or Instagram to “vote” for the school cause

For every picture consumers share, USApple and partners pledge funds to the nominated causes. Through mid-November, USApple will collect photos and tally the votes. Along the way, USApple will encourage participation with weekly drawings whereby participants can win Apple gift cards and have money donated directly to their selected project. The cause with the most votes gets the highest donation, and all selected projects will receive funds.

In addition to student cause profiles, the Apples4Ed.com site will feature content on apples’ health benefits, highlight important apple facts, share information on top varieties, and feature original recipes developed by Top Chef fan favorite Dave Martin that pair apples with Apple Buddy products.