BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tops Friendly Markets and Dole Packaged Foods LLC have launched the fourth annual Learning Garden contest that will grant two elementary schools in either upstate New York, Vermont or Northern Pennsylvania a Captain Planet Foundation Learning Garden. The contest is underway and runs until Feb. 7, 2020.

Tops shoppers can enter their school for a chance to win by visiting topsmarkets.com or https://captainplanetfoundation.org/contest/topsmarkets/ and filling out the contest application. Two lucky schools will win a comprehensive Learning Garden complete with lesson kits filled with supplies, a schoolyard garden, fully-equipped garden cooking cart, and strategies for summer garden maintenance.

The Learning Garden program provides a context for multidisciplinary learning, ranging from nutrition and science to social, studies, math and language arts. Students benefit by expanding their palates, taste-testing healthy foods, and learning about food origins.

“Dole is very excited to be partnering with Tops Friendly Markets again to bring two lucky schools Learning Gardens. It is so important for children to learn about where their food comes from and develop healthy eating habits at an early age,” said Marty Ordman, communications director, Dole Packaged Foods.

“Tops Friendly Markets is excited to partner with Dole and the Captain Planet Foundation for a 4th year. We are committed to supporting educational excellence and the hands-on garden and curriculum is an integral part of the conversation when teaching kids where their food comes from,” says Diane Colgan, senior VP of marketing & decision support, Tops Friendly Markets. “We encourage every elementary school to consider entering for their chance at winning this great free resource.”