Tasteful Selections, a specialty potato brand from RPE Inc., concluded its fourth annual campaign with Katie’s Krops, a non-profit focused on empowering young growers to plant vegetable gardens and donate the harvests to the underserved in their communities.
As part of the annual campaign, a portion of the profits from specially marked bags of Tasteful Selections’ Ruby Sensation and Honey Gold potatoes, that were available October through the end of January, went to the nonprofit.
“Our goal is to make it easier for people to support those in need within their own communities,” said Russell Wysocki, president and CEO of RPE Inc., co-owner of Tasteful Selections. “Our aim for this campaign was to raise awareness about the amazing work Katie has been doing with Katie’s Krops and to invite our customers to take action and help us in the fight against hunger.”
Founded by the now 18-year-old Katie Stagliano, the idea for Katie’s Krops was conceived in 2008, when Katie grew a 40-pound cabbage and donated it to a local soup kitchen. After seeing the impact of one large cabbage, Katie was determined she could do more to help those in need, and has been doing that ever since.
Katie’s Krops has donated thousands of pounds of fresh produce to organizations helping people in need both from Katie’s flagship garden in South Carolina and by awarding grants to youth-led gardens. Currently, there are 100 Katie's Krops gardens growing across the country in 32 states.
“We are truly blessed to partner with RPE to empower youth to end hunger,” Katie Stagliano said. “Their generous support has helped us create a sustainable solution to hunger. Working together we have empowered thousands of children to grow vegetable gardens across the country where the whole harvest is donated to individuals in need. In 2016, our young Growers grew and donated 26,000 pounds of fresh produce. This would not be possible without the support of RPE and our amazing sponsors.”
RPE and Tasteful Selections will continue to help Katie reach her goal of creating and maintaining 500 gardens across all 50 states by donating proceeds from packages of Tasteful Selections potatoes to help fund Katie’s Krops gardens.
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