PHOENIX — Sprouts Farmers Markets has kicked off its "Celebration of the Child" program. Through Oct. 1, all Sprouts stores will have free kids’ cooking classes. Stores will also be collecting money and encouraging children to help save the rainforest. The event is linked to Sprouts’ involvement in The Children's Eternal Rainforest, a protected, 54,000-acre private reserve located in the Tilaran mountain range in northwestern Costa Rica. The rainforest is the largest private reserve in Central America thanks to financial support of children from 44 different nations. Sprouts supports groups like the Monteverde Conservation League, which started in 1987 by school children in Sweden who sent money to Monteverde, Costa Rica, to purchase rainforest land. “We are committed to protecting this biodiversity, and we encourage you to partner with us in preserving more rainforest,” Sprouts said. Sprouts operates 25 natural food stores in the Western United States.

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