LONG ISLAND CITY, NY--(Marketwired - May 16, 2013) -  FreshDirect, the leading online retailer of fresh foods and grocery items, announced today the company will lend its support to Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day, taking place worldwide on Friday, May 17, 2013. Food Revolution Day is based on a national movement to change the way America eats. Through Food Revolution Day, Oliver is bringing together millions of people to inspire the nation to fight obesity with better food. At the core of Food Revolution Day is a powerful strategy to get people cooking again, whether it be in their schools, homes, workplaces or communities.

As a sign of support for Food Revolution Day, FreshDirect is donating a percentage of their May 14, 2013 weekly sales to the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. FreshDirect is also promoting the cause on its website through banner ads and a fresh produce picks list that encourages customers to choose fresh, healthy foods. Additionally, FreshDirect is hosting an employee potluck lunch where employees can share their love of food, cooking skills and food knowledge.

"At FreshDirect, we strive to change the relationship people have with food, freshness and farmers, so we felt supporting Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day perfectly aligned with our mission," said David McInerney, FreshDirect's Co-Founder. "We are keenly aware that people in the U.S. eat 31 percent more unhealthy processed food than fresh food, which is more per person than any other country on earth. Diet-related illness causes three out of four American deaths every year. Today, 35 percent of Americans are obese, and 70 percent are overweight. One in five American kids struggle with hunger, while 40 percent of the food we do produce is wasted. Tackling this issue head-on is the only way to make a real impact, and we couldn't be more united in the quest to change the way people eat and cook."

Each day, FreshDirect works to make healthy fresh food easier to find, buy, prepare and eat.

"We're doing this with children through innovative school lunch programs and community events; we're doing this with moms and families through education and meaningful social connection points; and we're doing this with time-starved young professionals who will raise the standards of diet and nutrition for future generations," said McInerney. "Supporting Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day is just one more way for us to raise awareness about the importance of good food and better food education for everyone."

FreshDirect also encourages its customers to participate in Food Revolution Day through social media engagment.

"Customers are encouraged to initiate their own cooking event," said John Leeman, FreshDirect's CMO. "During these events, share your skills with friends and family, buy fresh, local ingredients and spread the word of the Food Revolution Day mission through social media. After your event is planned, make sure to register your event on the Food Revolution Day web site. During and after the event, share your favorite fresh ingredients or favorite recipes with FreshDirect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freshdirect or on Twitter at @freshdirect."

About FreshDirect's Commitment to Providing Healthier Food Options in Schools

Currently FreshDirect is supplying nutritious, quality meals to the Sustainability Workshop School in Philadelphia as a part of their school lunch program. Since starting the school lunch program, the students at the Sustainability Workshop have consumed 25% more vegetables and 40% more fruits than ever before. FreshDirect also acknowledges the hurdles low income neighborhoods face with regard to accessing fresh, high quality foods. In order to help combat this challenge, FreshDirect has piloted the first online EBT program in the Bronx.

About FreshDirect
FreshDirect is a leading online grocer in the U.S., delivering premium quality fresh-from-the-farm foods and brand-name groceries to customers in the greater New York, New Jersey, Connecticut metro area and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With a more than 2,500-member workforce that is still growing, FreshDirect places an emphasis on nutritious, delicious meals and convenient services that allow customers more time to live healthy lives. FreshDirect aspires to be a valued corporate partner in all communities in which it serves.

For more information, visit www.freshdirect.com. Follow FreshDirect on Twitter: @freshdirect and on Facebook: facebook.com/FreshDirect