Leading Better-For-You Brands Join Conscious Alliance To Launch Innovative Backpack Program At Natural Products Expo West 2015

BOULDER, Colo., March 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Plum Organics, Justin's and Suja Juice are proud to announce a new initiative with Conscious Alliance, a national nonprofit committed to supporting communities in crisis through hunger relief and youth empowerment. The coalition has banded together to launch one of the nations first Backpack Programs featuring natural and healthy products. Leading up to Natural Products Expo West 2015, the brands are asking their industry partners to join forces with Conscious Alliance to help nourish food-insecure communities.

Since its inception in 2002, Conscious Alliance (CA) has provided nearly two million meals to community members in need nationwide with a special focus on economically isolated Native American reservations. The nonprofit will begin its pilot Backpack Program this March at Loneman School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest communities in the United States. With an unemployment rate of over 80 percent on the reservation, every student at Loneman School receives free or reduced lunch.

Backpack programs, which send students home each Friday with a backpack full of food for the weekend, are designed to support food-insecure children who rely on school meals. While traditional programs typically offer packaged food options high in added sugar, sodium and artificial ingredients, students at Loneman School will receive backpacks full of Justin's nut butters, Plum Organics fruit and veggie pouches and other nutritious products for the whole family. (As Suja juices are perishable, the brand is supporting the initiative with quarterly donations to Conscious Alliance). The kits will also include health and fitness tips.

To expand the reach of the Conscious Alliance Backpack Program to serve more families and impoverished communities, organic baby food brand Plum Organics, nut butter and organic confections brand Justin's, and organic and cold-pressured juice brand Suja Juice are urging companies in the natural products industry to join the movement. Additional brands that get on board will become part of this first-of-its-kind initiative to collectively nourish the nation's most vulnerable populations.

"In America, food insecurity is not a calorie crisis – it's a nutrition crisis," said Justin Levy, executive director, Conscious Alliance. "Getting access to healthy options is almost impossible for families in the communities we serve, like Pine Ridge, which only has one grocery store for a population of over 30,000 people spread across nearly two million acres of land. That's why we're incredibly grateful to have support from brands like Justin's, Suja and Plum Organics. Now, we're seeking additional natural products brands to help our Backpack Program reach more children in need of support. Let's join forces to fight domestic hunger, together."

To learn more about Conscious Alliance's efforts to provide hunger relief and youth empowerment through the Backpack Program, contact Justin Levy, Conscious Alliance Executive Director, at mailto:[email protected] or visit www.consciousalliance.org.

ABOUT CONSCIOUS ALLIANCE
Conscious Alliance is a national nonprofit organization committed to supporting communities in crisis through hunger relief and youth empowerment. Since 2002, the Boulder, Colorado based 501(c)(3) has provided 1.9 million meals to Native American reservations and communities nationwide. They are raising awareness of the extreme poverty on many Native American reservations, which are among the nation's poorest communities, and providing opportunities for Native American youth to explore their creativity and develop strong ties to their culture.

ABOUT JUSTIN'S
Justin's makes naturally delicious, high-quality nut butters and peanut butter cups that deliver great taste, unique texture and convenient nutrition. Established in 2004 in the home kitchen of health enthusiast Justin Gold, Justin's supports an on-the-go lifestyle and was the first nut butter brand to market nut butters in single-serve squeeze packs. Justin's peanut butter cups are USDA-certified organic and are made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa. The nut butters are finely crafted with Justin's one-of-a-kind grinding process to create an exceptional texture and flavor experience. All seven varieties offer a fiber-rich source of protein perfect for snacking anytime of the day. For more information, please visit Justin's at http://www.justins.com, http://www.facebook.com/JustinsNutButter and http://www.twitter.com/Justins.

ABOUT SUJA JUICE
Suja Juice™ began from a shared dream to help people transform their lives through conscious nutrition. The three handcrafted lines of cold-pressured juices, Suja Classic™, Suja Elements™ & Suja Essentials™ are Certified Organic and verified Non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. All juices and smoothies are cold-pressured using High Pressure Processing (HPP) to kill any harmful bacteria and preserve maximum nutrition and taste. Suja Classic™, packed with pure fruits and vegetables, is the convenient way to drink nutrients the body needs and maintain overall health. The Suja Elements™ line is packed with vital nutrients, amino acids, omegas and antioxidants. For each bottle of Suja Elements™ purchased, 20-25 cents is donated to an important cause. In 2014, Suja introduced its newest line, Suja Essentials™, for anytime, anywhere refreshment. Suja Essentials™ delivers functional refreshment with vital nutrients your body needs like amino acids, antioxidants, proteins & omegas.  With a wide range of cold-pressed organic offerings, Suja™ has a juice for every lifestyle.   Suja can be purchased through SujaJuice.com, Amazon.com, as well as Natural and select National Grocery chains.

For more information on Cold-Pressure Technology, please visit www.ColdPressured.Org

ABOUT PLUM ORGANICS
Plum Organics is a leading innovator with the mission of inspiring a lifetime of healthy eating from the very first bite. Recognized for unique, culinary-inspired recipes and a modern approach to family nutrition, Plum offers a complete line of premium, nutritious organic baby food, toddler and kid snack & mealtime products in addition to snack pouches for adults. Plum has dedicated its social mission to delivering nutrient rich, organic food into the hands of little ones in need across America. For more information about Plum Organics, please visit www.plumorganics.com.

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SOURCE Conscious Alliance

Related Links

http://www.consciousalliance.org

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