Salisbury, Md. (Monday, January 27, 2014) — Perdue Farms, through the support of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, is helping the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) educate students about the importance of agriculture. The Foundation provided a $5,000 grant to support the 2013-2014 school-year curriculum in schools across Virginia, including areas in which a large number of Perdue associates live and work, such as Accomack and Rockingham counties.

“Our whole mission and partnership with Perdue serves to help kids understand where their food comes from and the processes that our involved to get that food from the farm to the dinner table,” said Parke Sterling, Development Coordinator for the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. “If nobody takes the time to explain to kids what’s in the fields and on the farms, and how important they are to our food supply, then those kids will not even know the basics about agriculture.”

The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation has provided $10,000 in funding support to the Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom program since 2012.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to education, Perdue is pleased to present a $5,000 grant funded through the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation to help Virginia schools reach students through the Agriculture in the Classroom curriculum,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “It brings a unique opportunity to expose students to the importance of agriculture, including an understanding about where much of our food comes from and the industry’s impact in their region.”

About The Virginia Agriculture In The Classroom Program
Virginia AITC is part of a nationwide effort to help teachers and students understand and appreciate agriculture, which is Virginia’s and the nation’s largest industry. The program provides training and materials to more than 1,900 educators each year, and its website at AgInTheClass.org provides teachers with Standards of Learning-aligned lessons, literacy activities and more. All AITC services are provided to educators at no cost, and AITC works with teachers in areas where Perdue associates live and work, like Accomack and Rockingham counties. The AITC program is funded by donations received through the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. For information on supporting the foundation’s educational initiatives, visit AgInTheClass.org.

About Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products. Since our beginning on Arthur Perdue’s farm in 1920, to our expansion into agribusiness and the introduction of the PERDUE® brand of chicken and turkey under Frank Perdue, and continuing with our third generation of leadership with Chairman Jim Perdue, we’ve remained family owned and family operated. We are the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Through our PERDUE®, HARVESTLAND® and COLEMAN NATURAL® and COLEMAN ORGANIC® food brands; agricultural products and services; and stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, we are working to become the most-trusted name in food and agricultural products. Learn more about Perdue Farms and our Corporate Responsibility Report at www.perduefarms.com.

About the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture.™