The Nature Conservancy
and Meijer Re-Launch
Garden Center Partnership
with Earth Day “Open House”
New Look, Big Contest, More Choices
for Shoppers This Year
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan—April 23, 2008—The Nature Conservancy and Meijer stores are teaming up again to encourage shoppers to select non-invasive plants, trees and shrubs for their backyards, and they are kicking off this year’s program with a special Earth Day open house on April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at all 181 Meijer stores throughout the Midwest. In Illinois, Meijer stores are located in Champaign, Bolingbrook, Springfield, Aurora, St. Charles, Elgin, Bloomingdale, Algonquin, Normal, Plainfield, McHenry, Rolling Meadows, Oswego, and Urbana.
“Invasive species can wreck havoc on local ecosystems by disrupting the delicate balance found in nature,” said Leslee Spraggins, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. “This on-going partnership between Meijer and The Nature Conservancy will hopefully help to reduce some of the damage done by invasive species by giving consumers the information they need to help their local environment.”
This year, Meijer removed another known invasive plant from their inventory, privet, in addition to Norway maple and Lombardy poplar, which were removed from their inventory last year.
Shoppers visiting Meijer stores on April 26 will be able to learn about environmentally friendly products such as non-invasive plants recommended by The Nature Conservancy through a store-wide open house being held at all 181 Meijer stores. Meijer representatives will be on-hand to provide background information and informal discussions on non-invasive plants, as well as provide free seeds and literature on how to make your yard more earth friendly.
Customers visiting Meijer on April 26 can also pick up a variety of free informational items, including a special Earth Day booklet, stickers and magnets, as well as enter to win prizes such as a $4,500 backyard upgrade or a new hybrid vehicle.
“Providing healthy choices for our customers through our nutrition and lifestyle offerings is a key part of our business philosophy,” said Hank Meijer, co-chairman and CEO. “We believe that by providing our customers with earth-friendly information in a fun and informative way, we are empowering them to healthy choices for our earth as well.”
Invasive plants are those that have negative effects on our economy, environment or human health. They can quickly overwhelm native plants by reducing the availability of light, water, nutrients and space. Commonly known invasives include plants such as purple loosestrife and garlic mustard, which are found throughout the Midwest.
According to Nature Conservancy scientists, almost all invasive plants are non-native, but not all non-native plants become invasive. Hundreds of non-native plants have become established in the Midwest yet relatively few become invasive. Experts say that invasive species cost Americans about $137 billion every year in losses.
Conservancy scientists developed criteria for recommending plants, trees and shrubs that will carry the Conservancy’s logo on tags in Meijer Garden Centers. Up to 16 percent of Meijer’s plants, trees and shrubs have a special icon created by The Nature Conservancy indicating “Recommended Non-Invasive.”
Species that will receive the special icon on tags redesigned this year include:
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Purple coneflower (flower)
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White pine (tree)
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Big blue stem (grass)
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Flowering dogwood (tree)
Meijer is proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy on this important project to make an impact on invasive species to protect our natural landscape. To learn more about what Meijer is doing to help the environment, visit nature.meijer.com.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States, including more than 80,000 acres in Illinois, and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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