FruitaBu and Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Launch National Program

Stretch Island Fruit Co., makers of FruitaBu(TM) Organic Smoooshed Fruit(TM), all-natural organic fruit snacks for kids, together with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF), an international nonprofit organization dedicated to planting edible fruit trees and plants to benefit communities and heal the earth, announced the national launch of the FruitaBu(TM) Fruit Tree 101 program. The program outlines a commitment to plant fruit orchards in schoolyards all across the U.S. in order to help educate local students about the importance of eating fruit and caring for the environment. Stretch Island Fruit Co.'s plans for 2008 call for approximately 25-30 schoolyard plantings, expected to total more than 1,000 new trees in schoolyards nationwide.

"Last year our test program resulted in nearly 160 trees and fruiting shrubs planted at schools in Portland, Ore., Madison, Wis., and San Diego, Calif. The success in these communities has triggered tremendous word-of-mouth interest and a demand for a more prolific year ahead," says Cem Akin, FTPF's Director. "With Stretch Island Fruit Co.'s generous donation, we aim to plant roughly 1,000 trees in 2008, which will eventually result in nearly 195,000 pounds of oxygen created and approximately 247,000 pounds of carbon dioxide absorbed from school grounds throughout America every year.(a)"

The national kick off for the FruitaBu(TM) Fruit Tree 101 program will take place at the Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, Calif. on Monday, March 31. During the event, an FTPF educator will engage students in a curriculum that highlights environmental concepts, with a hands-on fruit tree planting workshop, and also educates them on the importance of eating fruit as part of a daily diet. "The Environmental Charter High School is the perfect place to commence this program, as its core curriculum fosters experiential learning so all students graduate with practical knowledge of how to benefit the environment and their local community," continues Akin.

"All of us at Environmental Charter High School are extremely grateful for the opportunity that The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and the Stretch Island Fruit Co. have provided," says Sara Laimon, Program Director. "Our staff looks forward to teaching our students about the importance of eating more fruit and helping new classes care for our orchards for years to come."

Other areas that will benefit from the generosity of this program include, Chicago, Phoenix, Ariz., Baltimore, New York City, Greenville, S.C., Birmingham, Ala., and Honolulu, as well as schools on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. Other markets will continue to be added throughout the year.

Beyond providing environmental benefits and delicious fruit, the partnership between Stretch Island Fruit Co. and FTPF aims to raise nutritional and environmental awareness among our nation's youth. The beauty of the fruit trees are not purely aesthetic, as teachers are encouraged to utilize the orchards as outdoor classrooms, where botany, ecology and sustainability come to life.

About The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and shrubs to benefit communities, alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve individuals for generations to follow, at places such as public schools, homeless shelters, drug rehabs, low-income neighborhoods, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries. FTPF's unique mission, which has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times and The Hindu, benefits the environment, human health, and animal welfare--all at once! For more information please visit www.ftpf.org.

About FruitaBu(TM) Organic Smoooshed Fruit
FruitaBu(TM) fruit snacks provide kids with a fun, organic and convenient way to enjoy real fruit. Its ground-breaking line of organic fruit snacks deliver real fruit to kids through a wondrous, Organic Smoooshed Fruit(TM) experience that delights the senses and nourishes the body. FruitaBu(TM) fruit snacks were created by the fine folks at Stretch Island Fruit Co, a leading provider of all natural and organic fruit snacks that have been making it easy for people to enjoy the nourishing goodness of real fruit since 1976. For more information visit www.fruitabu.com or www.stretch-island.com/

(a)According to the Center for Urban Forest Research, the average backyard tree absorbs approximately 330 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year. These statistics have been conservatively reduced by 25% to take into consideration that fruit trees tend to be smaller in size than shade trees.