News for Rock Hill, SC

Rock Hill, S.C. – September 1, 2008

Earth Fare Raises $2,177.15 to help Richardson Animal Rescue Raise Awareness in York County

Starting August 1, 2008, Earth Fare and Richardson Animal Rescue partnered to help raise awareness about pet adoptions in York County!

To start off the month on August 9th, Earth Fare held a company-wide 5% day full of pet adoptions, kids activities, pet contests, live music and “Dollar Dogs”. At the end of the day, we raised over $1,400.00
Since Richardson Animal Rescue was also Earth Fare’s Friend of the Month for August, each time a customer brought in a reusable canvas bag, 5 cents was donated to Richardson Animal Rescue as well.

At the end of the month, Earth Fare collected $2,177.15 to be donated to Richardson Animal Rescue.
Earth Fare was founded in Asheville, North Carolina in 1975 and has grown into a premier chain of natural foods supermarkets located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. All Earth Fare supermarkets provide customers with real food that tastes better – fresh, locally grown organic produce, artisan products such as raw milk cheeses and specialty wines, traditional hard-crusted bakery breads and pastries, as well as antibiotic and hormone-free meats and poultry, and sustainably harvested seafood.

First off, thanks to all the kids and their parents for coming out on Saturday, August 23rd to our Kids Lunch Box day! We hope that you had a wonderful time!

For those who were not able to come and still would like to have some of those lunch box ideas for their little ones, you are in luck!

And congratulations to Kinsey for winning our grand prize E300 Razor Scooter on Saturday!!

Healthy Lunch Ideas
*Ham & Cheese Day!
-3 slices of Black Forest Ham (from our deli)
-2 slices of America Cheese (from our deli)
-2 slices of Rudy's Organic Sour Dough Bread
-1 organic apple (sliced)
-Organic Valley Lowfat Milk

*Turkey Day!
-4 or 5 turkey slices rolled up (we have a variety of different flavors in our deli)
-8-10 cheese cubes
-some type of organic wheat cracker
-organic grapes
-Organic Valley Lowfat Milk

*Take Me Out to the Ball Game
-bite size Applegate Organic Stadium Hot Dogs
-Earth Fare Organic Mac-n-Cheese
-Organic/Vegetarian fruit slices (bulk dept)
-Organic Valley Lowfat Milk

*Mexican Day!
-1 can black beans
-Earth Fare organic tortilla chips
-Earth Fare organic mild salsa
—Organic Valley Lowfat Milk

*Brunch Lunch Day!
-8 oz. organic vanilla yogurt
-Earth Fare granola (bulk)
-mixture of dried mixed fruit
-a peach/plum
-Organic Valley Lowfat Milk

*Pasta Day!
-Corkscrew pasta
-sundried tomatoes
-2 or 3 slices of European Baguette
-Organic Valley Lowfat Milk

*Mini Me Day!
-Whole Wheat Mini Bagels
-Creme Cheese
-sliced organic strawberries

Fun Snack Ideas
-Earth Fare Honey Roasted Sesame Sticks (bulk)
-Organic apple slices and cheese
-Organic baby carrots with hummus
-Trail Mix with Organic Valley Lowfat Chocolate Milk
-Organic Vanilla Yogurt with Earth Fare Granola
-Watermelon/Cantelope wedges
-Fruit Smooties

Kids Cooking Class – English Muffin Pizzas
Ingredients:
-English Muffins (cut in half)
-Tomato Sauce
-Pepperoni
-Monzarella Cheese
-Any other toppings (peppers, mushrooms, olives, etc.)

Bake at 350° for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted!

Hope you enjoy!!

Starting July 1, 2008, Earth Fare and Second Harvest partnered to put an end to hunger in York County! To start off the month, Earth Fare held their famous Burger for a Buck event which raised $871.00 in only 3 hours for Second Harvest!

During the weekend of July 11-13, Earth Fare held the “Fill the Back Pack Weekend” which was a weekend long full of events for kids such as culinary classes, crafts, lemonade stands, live music and so much more. The award-winning “Fill the Back Pack” program helps to create discrete bags of food for impoverished children to take home on the weekends. Throughout the store during the weekend there were lists of items that could be donated to help fill the back packs for the kids. Along with the back pack program that weekend, 5% of total store sales on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were donated to Second Harvest, as well!

Since Second Harvest Food Bank was also Earth Fare’s Friend of the Month for July, each time a customer brought in a reusable canvas bag, 5 cents was donated to Second Harvest as well.

At the end of the month, Earth Fare collected $5,899.60 to be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

“Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina wants to thank Earth Fare for their ongoing support in helping to feed those who are hungry in our region. We are delighted that Earth Fare has opened in Rock Hill and that the store is designating all of the proceeds from the July Friend of Earth Fare program to help end child hunger in York County,” states Kay Carter, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

California has joined the ranks of cities like, New York, Philadelphia and Seattle by becoming the first state to ban Trans Fats in all their restaurants by 2010. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the new legislation, represented a “strong step toward creating a healthier future”. Violations will incur fines of between $25 and $1,000. However, Earth Fare, a burgeoning natural and organic foods supermarket located in the Southeast, beat them to the punch – about 13 years ago!

“When Earth Fare reexamined its food philosophy and clarified its definition of natural in 1993, trans fats didn’t make the cut and have been banned from our shelves ever since,” says Troy DeGroff, director of sales and marketing for Earth Fare. “We were looking out for our customers’ health and well-being long before others decided to jump on the band wagon.”

Trans fats, also known as trans fatty acids, are made through an unnatural process called hydrogenation that converts liquid oils into solid fats. While increasing the shelf life of products such as margarine, cookies, chips, crackers, and fast food, trans fats do not increase the shelf life of humans – in fact, it’s just the opposite.

According to recent studies published by the Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Science (IOM/NAS), trans fats lower good cholesterol (HDL) and raise bad cholesterol (LDL), which is a significant contributor to heart disease. Studies also show that consuming just five grams of trans fats a day over many years boosts the risk of heart disease by 25 per cent. It’s estimated that in the U.S., up to 50,000 premature, heart related deaths can be linked to the consumption of trans fats.

Fortunately, there are safer and equally affordable alternatives to trans fats. Whole and flavorful monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats like olive oil and canola oil, nut oils made from peanuts, hazelnuts or walnuts, as well as flavor and vitamin rich butter. Earth Fare features foods made with these types of oils and healthy fats.

“We have always been aware that the unnatural processing of foods not only destroys natural flavor, but it also destroys people’s bodies," says DeGroff. “And, if good health isn’t enough of a motivator for you, think about it in terms of taste. Which would you rather eat, a spoonful of shortening or a spoonful of real butter? It really is an easy decision.”

So, while New York and all the others try to catch up, Earth Fare will continue to offer a trans fat-free shopping and dinning experience for its customers. From the shelves and freezers, to the bakery and café, customers don’t have to worry about reading the labels to know they are getting the most natural products around.

Today, Earth Fare has grown into a premier chain of natural foods supermarkets located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. All Earth Fare supermarkets provide customers with real food that tastes better. For more information regarding Earth Fare, please visit www.earthfare.com or call the corporate offices at 828-281-4800.

Earth Fare has opened its doors in Winthrop Commons, supplying Rock Hill with the largest selection of natural and organic gourmet foods in town. What you may not know is that besides striving to help people make healthier lifestyle choices, Earth Fare seeks to benefit the community in other ways by donating thousands of dollars annually to local non-profits through its Friends of Earth Fare program.

During the first three days of opening its doors, Earth Fare partnered with the Arts Council of York County to program art events, entertain customers and raise awareness for the arts.
In return, Earth Fare donated five percent of sales from those three days to the Arts Council. Today, Store Manager, Tom Seay, met with Arts Council Executive Director, Debra Heintz, and Development Coordinator, Kristin Sessions to present the check for $9,062.15.

Heintz said, “Earth Fare fills a real need by providing excellent products and professional staff. Their outstanding commitment to customer service makes them a pleasure to work with.
We appreciate their generosity toward our organization. Funds raised will be applied towards arts programming in York County.”