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ScottsMiracle-Gro Gives Back to Gro, Donates Fresh Produce to Food Pantries across the Country

Posted on: Friday, 15 May 2009, 05:45 CDT

Local Associate Edible gardens support those at risk for hunger in mid-Ohio

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continuing its long-standing tradition of giving back, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company today is dedicating new garden plots on its headquarters campus where associates will grow nutritious produce and donate harvests to local food agencies.

"The commitment we're making honors the legacy of my father Horace, who founded the Miracle-Gro business," said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive officer, ScottsMiracle-Gro. "He spoke often that running a business was much like planting a garden. He knew that smart gardeners wouldn't just take from the earth - they would put something back. In this effort and as part of our business, we are doing our part to make sure we leave the world a better place than we found it - and challenging other Americans to do the same."

Joining forces with its partners, Plant a Row for the Hungry and Feeding America, ScottsMiracle-Gro launched its national GroGood campaign, which includes donating 1 million pounds of produce to food banks and soup kitchens across the country. ScottsMiracle-Gro is also challenging Americans to grow and donate an additional million pounds of fresh produce to help feed those at risk for hunger. GroGood takes root in ScottsMiracle-Gro's overarching 'Give Back to Gro' commitment to support public green spaces, encourage community gardening and lead homeowner environmental stewardship programs.

Through its Give Back to Gro Garden, the Company's associates are lending a hand to help fill mid-Ohio food pantries with fresh produce for those in need. The local associate gardens will help those at risk for hunger in the greater Columbus area. The Marysville campus garden plots mark the completion of five GroGood community gardens installed in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Chicago this spring.

For over 35 years, ScottsMiracle-Gro has provided vegetable garden plots for associates and their families on its Marysville campus, helping them grow their own produce just steps from the office. At the Give Back to Gro Garden, more than 600 ScottsMiracle-Gro associates will plant and tend vegetables and herbs in 168 raised garden beds, totaling 3,000 cubic feet. Bonnie Plants has generously donated hundreds of plants for these edible gardens. ScottsMiracle-Gro associates have pledged to donate at least 25 percent of their harvest to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, where demand is up 20 percent this year. Mid-Ohio Foodbank serves 20 counties and more than 500 partner agencies.

The day's activities will kick off with planting, followed by the garden dedication. Throughout the growing season, associates can take advantage of how-to workshops on waste composting, seed harvesting and preserving produce.

For more information on GroGood, food gardening and how to locate a local food agency that accepts fresh produce, please visit www.GroGood.com.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro

With nearly $3 billion in worldwide sales and more than 6,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts(R), Miracle-Gro(R) and Ortho(R) brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup(R) brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S. the Company operates Scotts LawnService(R), the second largest residential lawn care service business. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol(R), Pathclear(R), Evergreen(R), Levington(R), Miracle-Gro(R), KB(R), Fertiligene(R) and Substral(R). For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.

SOURCE The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

Source: PR Newswire

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