EMERYVILLE, Calif., Apr 26, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ: JMBA), a leading healthy, active lifestyle company, together with the National Gardening Association (NGA), announced the 2012 recipients of the Jamba(R) "It's All About the Fruit and Veggies" Grant Award Program. The announcement was made at a press conference and tour today at the Girard Children's Community Garden in Washington DC.

Administered by the National Gardening Association (NGA), the grant program is designed to provide funding to local school and youth-focused community garden programs as a fun, innovative way to promote nutrition education, sustainability, and healthy lifestyle choices through garden experiences. The program also offers youth valuable, first-hand knowledge of how to seed, maintain and harvest fruit and vegetables.

Out of 800 applicants, twenty grants were awarded by Jamba Juice(R) and the NGA this year including three Washington DC youth gardening programs. The winning gardening programs demonstrated excellence in the areas of planning, community engagement, sustainability, and a strong dedication to promoting health and nutrition among youth. Winning applicants will receive packages valued at over $500 which includes gardening tools, a composter, raised bed, seeds, a curriculum and funds to purchase plants and soil amendments.

"We're proud to once again join the NGA to recognize educators, volunteers and local government leaders dedicated to teaching America's youth about gardening and caring for the environment," said James D. White, Chairman, President, and CEO, Jamba Juice Company. "Educating children early in their lives about the origins of fruits and vegetables and the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is a good first step in the fight against childhood obesity."

"There is a growing disconnect among our youth between health, nutrition, and the food they eat," added Mike Metallo, President and CEO, National Gardening Association. "Youth gardening programs, like Jamba's "It's All About The Fruits and Veggies" school garden grants, help to bridge that gap by turning book knowledge into hands-on experiential learning. Not only that, but Jamba's commitment to connecting young people to gardening has an impact on a host of beneficial outcomes to help the next generation of young people become healthier, more environmentally aware, active adults. We are delighted to be partnering with Jamba Juice in this important program and appreciate their commitment to encouraging everyone to form a healthy relationship with the foods they eat."

The youth garden grant program is a part of Jamba's broader social responsibility platform, Jamba CARES, which focuses on building healthier schools, neighborhoods and communities through innovative outreach programs across the country, like their "Team Up for a Healthy America(TM)" campaign. Since 2009, Jamba has donated more than $30,000 in grant monies for school and community gardens providing much needed funding for more than 60 educational programs.

The 2012 Jamba Juice "It's All About the Fruit and Veggies" recipients are as follows:

Mr. White was joined by professional basketball star, Ashley Robinson, Center, WNBA Washington Mystics. Ms. Robinson described the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle and eating a diet balanced with fresh fruits and vegetables in order to achieve peak athletic performance and also hosted a gardening activity for the children in attendance.

To learn more about the Jamba Juice-National Gardening Association partnership and how to participate in future activities visit www.JambaJuice.com/gardens, www.kidsgardening.org or www.garden.org.

About Jamba Juice Company

Founded in 1990, Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ: JMBA) is a leading restaurant retailer of better-for-you, specialty beverage and food offerings, which include great tasting, whole fruit smoothies, fresh squeezed juices and juice blends, hot coffee and teas, slow cooked hot oatmeal made with organic steel cut oats, Fit'n Fruitful(TM) smoothies with Weight Burner Boost(TM), Fruit and Veggie smoothies, Whirl'ns(TM) Frozen Yogurt, breakfast wraps, sandwiches and mini-wraps, California Flatbreads(TM) and a variety of baked goods and snacks. Jamba-branded products for at-home enjoyment are also available through select retailers across the nation and in Jamba outlets. Jamba Juice Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jamba, Inc., a holding company that owns and franchises Jamba Juice stores on a global basis. As of January 3, 2012, there were 769 store locations globally, consisting of 307 Company-owned and operated stores and 443 franchise-operated stores in the United States and 19 international stores. Jamba is a proud sponsor of "Team Up for a Healthy America" in the fight against childhood obesity and encourages fans to join the Team Up community of celebrities, athletes and other leaders committed to getting kids active and involved at www.myhealthpledge.com. Fans of Jamba Juice can find out more about Jamba Juice's locations as well as specific offerings and promotions by visiting the Jamba Juice website at www.JambaJuice.com or by contacting Jamba's Guest Services team at 1-866-4R-FRUIT (473-7848).

About the National Gardening Association

Founded in 1973, National Gardening Association (NGA) is a national nonprofit leader in plant-based education, respected for its award winning, information-rich Web sites and newsletters; grants, curricula, and resources for youth gardens; and research for the lawn and garden industry. NGA's mission is to promote home, school, and community gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment. To learn more about gardening with children, please visit www.kidsgardening.org.

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SOURCE: Jamba Juice Company

For Jamba Juice Company
Janice Duis
Corporate Communication & CSR
510-596-0286 or 510-596-0100 X7
jduis@jambajuice.com
or
For the National Gardening Association
Michael Metallo
802-863-5251
mikem@garden.org