The Produce Mom® Teams Ups With United Media Now Productions, Looks to Paid Jobs for Teens with Disabilities
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Produce Mom® and Indianapolis-based video production company United Media Now Productions, are teaming up to create job opportunities for teens with disabilities.
"In the produce industry, sustainability is everything," said Lori Taylor, Founder & CEO of The Produce Mom. "Through partnership with United Media, The Produce Mom promotes fresh produce with sustainability by empowering teens with jobs and life-sustaining career skills. It's a complementary relationship: my business receives a quality product and the employees of United Media are paid well to do a variety of interesting work."
A group of talented teens has produced over 80 recipe videos for The Produce Mom, according to a press release. Together with United Media, the team has produced videos for a number of produce companies. Amongst them are:
- Chelan Fresh
- Duda Farm Fresh Foods
- Josie's Organics
- Kroger
- Mann Packing
- Monterey Mushrooms
- Military Produce Group
- NatureSweet Tomatoes
- Naturipe
- Ocean Mist Farms
- Sage Fruit
- Wada Farms
- The National Watermelon Promotion Board
United Media Now initially began as a YouTube show started by Valerie Strohl in 2012. Entitled “Sarah’s Great Day,” the channel looked to help Strohl’s daughter Sarah—who has Down syndrome and was struggling in school—about math through cooking.
“My goal with 'Sarah's Great Day' was to change the culture and perception of people with disabilities," explained Strohl. "Through United Media's partnership with The Produce Mom, we have made great strides towards our mission. One way we accomplish this is through empowering teens, both with and without disabilities, by providing jobs, experience, and competitive wages in the hyper-relevant field of commercial video production."
"Our tagline is 'There's a produce mom in all of us!'" said Taylor. "And it's so true! Our team of advocates has always been diverse, including women who aren't moms, as well as men. I love how working with these teens shows, again, that anyone can advocate for the benefits of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, while at the same time providing the students a valuable, résumé-building opportunity to work in an inclusive setting on national and international produce brands."
Now, United Media's program with The Produce Mom, which started in August of 2015, is an official part of the curriculum at Zionsville Community High School, giving students the ability to earn school credit or receive a competitive and equitable wage. For many students with disabilities, the company said, this may be the best path they have for current and future employment.
