Spring fever is in the air, flowers are in bloom, and summer is just around the bend. What better opportunity to show how much you appreciate this lovely time of year than by celebrating EARTH DAY on April 22nd? This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and many fun, earth-friendly events are planned in communities across the country. Search online to find events near you!

The start of spring and Earth Day are great reasons for all of us to get outside and celebrate our planet. Here are just a few easy ways that you can protect our environment:

• Reduce, reuse and recycle! Look for products with less packaging, take reusable bags on shopping trips, creatively reuse other products, and recycle what’s left.

• Buy organic. Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides which make them a safer choice for your family and our planet.

• Commute without polluting. Use public transportation, carpool, walk or bike whenever possible. Plan your errands wisely to avoid unnecessary driving.

• Volunteer to participate in an Earth Day event in your community (check www.epa.gov/earthday or www.earthday.net for events near you)

• Spread the word! Engage your friends and family in Earth Day volunteer events. Share with them these easy tips for protecting our earth’s resources.

• Teach your children about how they can be good stewards of our planet (check www.epa.gov and other online sites for lesson plans)

And while we’re on the subject of protecting our planet, WORLD OCEANS DAY is also right around the corner. Celebrated on June 8th, World Oceans Day is a worldwide celebration of our shared ocean that helps make people more aware of the importance of the ocean in our everyday lives.

To celebrate World Oceans Day, Surf Sweets is hosting our second annual art contest for children aged 5-13. We have great prizes to give away, including tickets to your local museum, zoo, or aquarium, and a year’s supply of Surf Sweets candy! This is a great interactive opportunity to educate your children on ways to preserve our waterways and celebrate the diversity of life found in the ocean. Check out our website in May for more information on the contest.

As spring turns to summer and the weather warms up, don’t forget to take a minute to cool down with Surf Sweets candies. Our natural and organic gummy candies and jelly beans pack a refreshing wave of natural fruit flavor in every bite, the perfect treat to beat the heat!