WASHINGTON -- April 29 -- Coleman Natural Foods, the largest natural meat company in the United States, announces today an unprecedented decade-long conservation program, "The Coleman Eco-Project 2015," to address the critical need to restore America’s forests and protect U.S. working farms and ranches.

Serving as a catalyst, Coleman is forming a creative working partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and two conservation non-profit organizations: American Forests (AF) and American Farmland Trust (AFT).

The Eco-Project 2015 was launched with Coleman’s commitment to plant 1 million trees and a challenge to companies and individual citizens to help plant 9 million more trees. As a primary partner, the U.S. Forest Service will match each tree planted by Coleman, its retailers and customers for a total of 20 million trees. Trees will be planted in every state throughout the country. In addition, education and training programs to protect 100 million acres of working farms and ranches also will be undertaken.

Mel Coleman, Jr., Chairman, Coleman Natural Foods, whose vision inspired the initiative is challenging America to join him and the Coleman partners, the U.S. Forest Service, American Forests and American Farmland Trust by contributing to the "Mel Coleman, Jr., 20 Million Tree Challenge," a key component of the Coleman Eco-Project 2015.

Joining Coleman executives in Washington, D.C., at the Whitten Building on the Washington Mall in the ceremonial planting of the first of 20 million trees today: Mike Johanns, Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture; Sally Collins, Deputy Chief, USDA United States Forest Service; Dana York, Associate Chief, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Andrew Johnson, Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman; Debra Gangloff, Executive Director, American Forests; and Douglas P. Wheeler, Chairman, American Farmland Trust.

"We've undertaken our land-based eco-system program to improve and preserve our environment," said Mel Coleman, Jr. "This challenge is on behalf of today’s generation of Americans and for many more generations to follow," he said.

"We care about more than just selling our products. The Coleman family and company have always been dedicated to preserving the environment. We sincerely hope others throughout the country will join us to reach our 20 million tree planting goal," Coleman added.

This year natural/organic and conventional grocery retailers Wild Oats Markets, Dorothy Lane Markets, Knowlan’s, the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic regions of Whole Foods Markets and select A&P stores will display a tear pad with a UPC code that will permit customers to make a one-dollar contribution at each store checkout to the Coleman Eco-Project 2015. A tree will be planted for each dollar contribution made to the challenge and matched by the U.S. Forest Service. A Coleman product purchase is not required and Coleman contributions to the project are not contingent on sales. Other retailers from coast-to-coast are also planning to participate in the program.

The U.S. Forest Service will plant the trees with the resources provided by American Forests. Funds can be contributed to the Coleman Eco-Project 2015 at: www.americanforests.org or by a link from www.colemannatural.com.

About Coleman Natural Foods
Coleman Natural Foods, headquartered in Golden, Colorado, is the largest natural meat company in the United States, with its products sold at more than 1,650 stores nationwide. For more information visit www.colemannatural.com

About the USDA Forest Service
Established in 1905, the Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service is also the largest forestry research organization in the world, and provides technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies. For more information visit: www.fs.fed.us.

About American Forests
American Forests helps people improve the environment with trees and forests. A world leader in tree planting for environmental restoration, AF is a pioneer in advancing the science and practice of urban forestry and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests. American Forests helps people identify, recognize and preserve their special trees, and its community- based initiatives help people plan and implement local actions to restore and maintain healthy ecosystems and communities. American Forests is on the World Wide Web at: www.americanforests.org.

About American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit organization working on the local, state and national levels to promote conservation on productive farm and ranch lands. AFT works with communities and individuals to protect the best land, plan for growth with agriculture in mind and keep the land healthy. As the nation’s leading advocate for farm and ranch land conservation, AFT has helped ensure that more than one million acres remain bountiful and productive. For more information, visit: www.farmland.org.

###