Giving away greenhouses.

If it looks like a press release, and sounds like a press release…well…it just might be a press release.

International Greenhouse Company is donating greenhouses to five lucky schools in Washington State in an effort to help teach science and nutrition in a fun and engaging way. The giveaway is part of a contest launched in 2004 by KING 5 schools in Washington and the Washington State Potato Commission. Also joining IGC, KING 5, and the WSPC for the first time this year is PCC, the Puget Consumer Cooperative. IGC has been involved in the contest for the past five years.

“It’s a really great way to give kids the opportunity to experience, first hand, the miracle of growing,” David George, President and Owner of IGC, said. “It really helps them understand where their food comes from and what it takes to produce it.”

“This promotion also matches our company’s passion for horticultural education, as we have provided customized greenhouse solutions for secondary school programs across the United States for the past 16 years,” he added.

Competing schools submitted essays, letters, and pictures explaining the benefits a greenhouse would provide to their respective schools. Five winners were selected based on the quality of their submission and received a greenhouse from IGC as part of the contest giveaway.

The five winners this year were:

Concordia Lutheran School
Graham Hill Elementary School
Cedarhurst Elementary School
Rainier Elementary School
Explorer Community School

The contest is meant to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle for today’s youth, and is part of a growing national movement that seeks to make healthy food alternatives a staple in the diets of school children. Education as to what exactly healthy food is, is an important part of any focus on healthy lifestyles.

“PCC is so proud to participate in a contest that strives to improve childhood nutrition and education in our schools,” Tom Monahan, Marketing Manager with PCC Natural Markets, said. He said the program reflects the principles PCC embodies with some of their other programs.

George echoed that sentiment, saying, “Kids may not even realize what it takes to produce the food they eat. And since many adults don’t even realize what constitutes healthy food, it’s important to teach this to our future generations.”