California Grocers Association, San Jose Area Grocers Join San Jose Councilmember Kansen Chu in 2009 “Great American Litter Pick Up”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dave Heylen, V.P. Communications California Grocers Association
Tel: 916.448.3545
Fax: 916.448.2793
E-mail: [email protected]

California Grocers Association
1415 L Street, Suite 450
Sacramento, CA 95814

Grocers to supply bottled water and reusable carryout bags to volunteers.

SACRAMENTO, CA – (April 24, 2009) – Local San Jose grocers are joining forces with Councilmember Kansen Chu to refresh volunteers participating in this year’s Great American Litter Pick Up on Saturday, April 25, 2009.

The three local grocery retailers, PW Supermarkets, Safeway Inc., Save Mart Supermarkets along with the California Grocers Association, will supply bottled water to more than 600 volunteers expected to participate in this annual San Jose litter prevention event. In 2008, event participants collected 404 bags of litter and 86 bags of recyclable material.

“Our members wanted to support the hundreds of volunteers participating in this very worthwhile effort to have a positive impact on their communities,” said CGA President Ronald Fong. The annual event is sponsored by the City of San Jose and other regional anti-litter campaign partners.

In addition to replenishing volunteers with needed water, all three retailers will be distributing free reusable carryout bags and encouraging volunteers to “remember the bag” when grocery shopping.

“Obviously these volunteers are concerned about the environment and we want to reward them for their efforts,” Fong said. “What better way to say thank you than to provide a reusable shopping bag to be used every time they visit their local grocery store.”

Fong said California grocers fully support increasing consumer interest in reusable shopping bags. “Reusable bags are an essential part of our industry’s environmental goal to reduce, reuse and recycle,” Fong said. He noted that in an effort to increase reusable bag awareness, many grocers throughout California participated in this year’s Earth Day on April 22 by giving away reusable bags.

“We congratulate all those engaged in this important environmental event, particularly Councilmember Chu for allowing our industry to participate.” Fong said. “We hope to work closely with city officials in reducing litter through effective, coordinated efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle.”


The California Grocers Association is a non-profit, statewide trade association representing the food industry since 1898. CGA represents approximately 500 retail members operating over 6,000 food stores in California and Nevada, and approximately 200 grocery supplier companies. Retail membership includes chain and independent supermarkets, convenience stores and mass merchandisers.