Potandon Produce Introduces The Arbor Day Challenge

Potandon Produce in support of the Arbor Day Foundation is formally announcing The Arbor Day Challenge. Wildfire devastation has hit America especially hard over the past few years, with millions of acres burned. As of October 2015 large fire activity is ongoing in Idaho, Montana, Washington, California, and Oregon. The western states are not alone in facing this crisis as history reports multiple fires in almost every state each year. The total number of acres burned so far in 2015 has passed nine million and continues to grow, potentially making 2015 the worst year on record for wildfire destruction. Being an Idaho based company, the staff at Potandon Produce see the impact of these fires firsthand, with smoke filled air, local news reports of properties being burned, businesses destroyed and people displaced, and sadly the loss of life, both human and animal. The aftermath of these fires are ghastly empty wide swaths of barren land in desperate need of our help. The goal of the program is to restore them to their natural state as rapidly as possible, for the sake of the wildlife populations, limiting soil erosion, and generating oxygen. Trees are critical, officials say, by absorbing carbon dioxide, providing natural protection from storm run-offs, which slow potential flooding, and by lifting deep groundwater and discharging it into the air. This need is why Potandon Produce is introducing The Arbor Day Challenge. Arbor Day is on April 29th, 2016 and Potandon is officially calling upon the entire Produce and Floral industries to join and help support the planting of trees in these burned out areas. Each dollar pledged will support the planting of one tree and to get things started, Potandon has pledged $1000. The company's goal by Arbor Day is to have total contributions of $50,000 of funding. Ralph Schwartz, vice president of marketing, sales, and innovation at Potandon Produce and the creator of this event, says, “Everyone working in the Produce and Floral Industries understands the importance of a healthy eco-system and how critical it is to quickly recover from this type of devastation. Today, I respectfully ask everyone who is part of this great family to join us in support of the Arbor Day Foundation in their ongoing efforts to plant trees.” Interested participants can go to www.potandon.com/arborday to get additional information on the program and to make a donation.