Good Luck, Zac!

The press release below is about a remarkable young man who set sail today in hopes of being the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe. I checked in with his mother before he left and offered recommendations for the best foods to help Zac Sunderland handle the rigors of the amazing voyage ahead of him. Please join me in wishing Zac smooth sailing, a safe voyage and all the best of health!

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Zac Sunderland, who at 16 years of age is seeking to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo, has announced that he will take with him on his around-the-world voyage a message of healthy eating.

The intrepid Sunderland has enlisted the support of Produce for Kids(R) (PFK), an organization that promotes the benefits of healthy eating and raises funds for Children's Miracle Network(R) (CMN) hospitals nationwide and PBS(R). Through PFK, additional produce sponsors have come on board to support the program including Shuman Produce (RealSweet brand), a produce marketing company specializing in the marketing and distribution of quality sweet onions from Vidalia, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico; and Mastronardi Produce Ltd. (Sunset Produce brand including Campari Cocktail Tomatoes), the leading greenhouse marketing company in North America specializing in hot house tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.

Sunderland sets sail at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 from the Marina del Rey Boat Show.

"The support of Produce for Kids, Shuman Produce and Mastronardi Produce is an invaluable part of this great adventure, and I'm thrilled to be taking with me a message that I hope can inspire people along the route to maybe eat a little better and stay healthy," said Sunderland.

On his 11-month voyage, Sunderland will benefit from the dietary counsel of Produce for Kids advisory board chairman, author and nutritionist Dave Grotto, one of the nation's leading advocates of a balanced diet. Grotto's book "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life!" was published earlier this year.

In recognition of the epic voyage, Produce for Kids will also make a financial donation in support of the Junior Sailing Program run by Westlake Yacht Club in Westlake Village, Calif. - Sunderland's home port and a key backer of his record-breaking quest. The program encourages juniors to experience the joy of sailing, and helps to develop their recreational and competitive sailing skills.

"We can help keep Zac fit and well during his long adventure by making sure that he eats a balanced diet," said Grotto. "We're also excited that Produce for Kids' message of getting children to eat more fruits and vegetables receives worldwide exposure because it relates to an important global health issue." The Produce for Kids, RealSweet and Sunset Produce logos will be visible on the spinnaker sail of Sunderland's 36-foot Islander sailboat, Intrepid.

Sunderland's 40,000-mile route will first take him west across the Pacific to Papua New Guinea and Australia, and then across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius and Madagascar. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope he will traverse the treacherous South Atlantic Ocean before navigating the Panama Canal and heading north back to California.

About Produce for Kids

Produce for Kids(R) promotes healthy lifestyles for children by educating kids and parents about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables while also supporting worthy children's causes. Since its creation in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., Produce for Kids has raised more than $1.2 million for local Children's Miracle Network hospitals. Produce for Kids also partners with PBS KIDS(R) to educate parents on healthy eating and raise funds for PBS. For additional information on Produce for Kids, visit www.produceforkids.org .

SOURCE Produce for Kids
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