Heinz^® Ketchup and Josie Bissett Team up to Grow 57,000 Wholesome Memories

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As American families turn to simpler pleasures this summer, Heinz^® Ketchup and Josie Bissett are teaming up to encourage them to celebrate a priceless part of daily life: memorable moments. At HeinzWholesomeMemories.com, families are invited to share their personal photos and favorite memories, from backyard barbeques to baseball games to family traditions. For each story shared, Heinz will make a donation to the National Gardening Association (NGA), and 57 memories will be selected to win a Growing Wholesome Memories kit, filled with supplies for creating new memories at home. In keeping with the iconic Heinz “57,” the goal is to collect 57,000 inspiring memories.

“Whether you cook up traditions in the kitchen or grow them in the backyard, it’s important to create precious memories for your children and family,” said Josie Bissett, actress, mom, and author of the book Making Memories. “My family has made many memories around the table with Heinz Ketchup, and I know that the stories Americans share will help inspire us all to create new ones.”

Cultivating new family traditions

Beyond submitting their own memories, families can turn to the stories shared for inspiration for cultivating their own new family traditions. In addition, the donation by Heinz to the National Gardening Association will help fund the creation of intergenerational gardens that allow family members of all ages to grow new memories together. Just as Heinz Ketchup has more than 130 years of passion and tradition in growing and selecting the perfect tomatoes —“Grown, Not Made^®” from Heinz Seeds — the National Gardening Association encourages Americans to foster a love for gardening and growing their own food.

“We believe creating memorable family experiences is an important part of childhood, and whether it’s growing, cooking, or eating, food often plays a special part in these moments,” said Noel Geoffroy, Director of Heinz Ketchup. “For years, Americans have shared with us how Heinz Ketchup inspired their family memories through letters, phone calls and e-mails. We hope that by providing a forum through the Heinz Wholesome Memories contest and the intergenerational gardens, we’ll continue to provide inspiration for the creation of new memories for years to come.”

Heinz Wholesome Memories contest

Participants are invited to submit a photo and description of their Heinz Ketchup memory of 150 words or less at HeinzWholesomeMemories.com. The contest is open now until August 7, 2009 and 57 winners will be selected based on their ability to inspire others to create new memories. The winners’ kits feature memory-making tools, including Josie Bissett’s book Making Memories, a digital camera, hanging tomato planter, recipes, garden tools, Heinz Ketchup, cooking utensils, and more. All visitors to the site are encouraged to make memories at home by downloading free Heinz Wholesome Memories coloring pages, which feature the artwork of the 2009 Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest winners.

Introducing HeinzKetchup.com

Learn more about how Heinz Ketchup is “Grown, Not Made,” plus view new recipes, promotions, brand history and product information on the new Web site, HeinzKetchup.com. Built by Kalamazoo-based digital agency Biggs|Gilmore, this marks the brand’s first dedicated Web site for Heinz Ketchup and celebrates the passion consumers share every day for the brand.

For inspiration for creating new family memories and details on the contest, visit www.HeinzWholesomeMemories.com.

About Heinz

H.J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day,™” is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy, convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home, restaurants, the office or “on-the-go.” Heinz is a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz® Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz’s total sales), Ore-Ida® potato products, Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® entrees, Boston Market® meals, T.G.I. Friday’s® snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on five continents, showcased by Heinz® Ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup®. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.

About Josie Bissett

Josie Bissett is recognized internationally for her role as the popular ‘Jane Mancini’ on FOX-TV’s “Melrose Place,” which ended its successful seven-year run in May of 1999. She can currently be seen on ABC Family Channel’s hit drama series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” and will make a special guest appearance on the CW’s new take on “Melrose Place,” which will premiere in September. She wrote the popular children’s book, “Tickle Monster,” which earned the Publisher’s Choice Award for 2008 from the Family Magazine Group, and is the author of “Little Bits Of Wisdom” – a heartwarming collection of parenting wisdom and child-rearing gathered from more than 1,000 parents and grandparents throughout the world – and “Making Memories,” which features over 200 ways for parents to create rich family memories with their children that last a lifetime.

About National Gardening Association

The nonprofit National Gardening Association (NGA) promotes gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment. For 35 years, NGA has been a leader in plant-based education and garden-industry research. Our vast Web resources support gardeners of every age and ability, but our programs have a special emphasis on youth. NGA grant programs have helped an estimated 1.3 million youngsters reap rewards and vital life lessons in schoolyard habitats, community gardens, and backyards nationwide. Our primary communication vehicle is the Web, and NGA owns one of the largest online repositories of educational youth gardening content in the U.S. Visit www.garden.org or www.kidsgardening.org to learn more.