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How to Snack with Impact: Sunrays + Save the Children

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By Jessica Blotter  •  Posted on Sep 20, 2018

Snacking with impact when you travel kindly has never been easier thanks to the only give back mandarin orange brand, Sunrays.

For every bag or box of delicious, juicy mandarins packed, Sunrays makes a donation to Save the Children, helping to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Globally, more than 150 million children in developing countries are malnourished. In the U.S. communities that Save the Children serves, an average of 59 percent of the population does not have access to fresh, healthy foods.

For the Kind Traveler, alongside purchasing with purpose, Sunrays mandarins also satisfies the need for a healthy on-the-go snack (we love its easy peel) that’s made with a lot of love: non-GMO Project Verified and sustainable packaging. For a deeper look into the inspiration behind this socially conscious brand, we talked with Sunrays co-creator, John Paap.

We also dug up a few drool-worthy recipes that will get you sipping margaritas mandarin style and a go-to mandarin orange creamsicle smoothie as a nutritional staple. You'll also find a unique spin on a classic treat that eliminates the need for utensils to bring to your next summer beachside bonfire or campfire in the woods.

Snack with impact for a full belly and heart. 

1. As a fourth-generation fresh produce importer, what inspired you to create Sunrays? 

@beautybyleightaylor

We’ve been importing fresh fruit for over 70 years and importing mandarin oranges for over 25 years and in that time, we’ve cultivated partnerships with the highest quality mandarin growers around the world. That said, we felt it was time to create a mandarin brand that consumers could get excited about – not just for the delicious product inside but what the brand does and represents. We love what some other brands in other industries have done in connecting their product to a mission and we thought it would be amazing if we could integrate this concept into our own brand.

2. With many mandarin brands on the market, what makes a Sunrays mandarin different than other mandarins? 

There are two big differences with Sunrays mandarins: it's eco-conscious packaging and give back component.

When we pack Sunrays, we make sure to use only what is necessary. For example, you will never find stickers on our fruit if it’s in a consumer bag or box – because why create more waste if we don’t have to? As for our paperboard materials they are produced under responsible forestry practices, which includes practices such as planting three trees in place 

of each tree harvested and continually evaluating habitat and biodiversity impacts from forest activities. When it comes to our plastic packaging, all the plastic used is 100% recyclable.

While looking out for our planet, we are also making sure we give back to those in need. Our model is simple: for every bag and or box we pack, we make a donation to Save the Children. Through this model, we are literally building brighter futures for children every time we pack Sunrays – how amazing is that?

3. Let’s talk about your partnership with Save the Children. Why was it important to you to create a give back component to your brand? Why Save the Children and what does your give back strategy look like? 

We want to leave the world in a brighter place than we found it. Being a fourth-generation family company, we understand first-hand the importance of investing in the future to make each generation more successful than the one before it. When we look at the world today, so many children are suffering from lack of education, poor access to medical care, hunger, and violence. We want to help change that and we believe the best way to bring brighter futures to children is to invest in children and there was no better organization that shared those same beliefs than Save the Children, the world’s leading charity for children for nearly 100 years!

Helping America’s Children Succeed

✕

Save the Children has one goal: giving all children the best chance for the future they deserve – a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Every day and in times of crisis. Here in the U.S. and around the world. Whatever it takes. As for our give back strategy, it’s all about how much we pack! The more we pack, the more we give back.

4. What kind of impact have you made with Save the Children so far and what are your impact goals? 

In 2017, we donated over $53,000 to Save the Children. These funds help to support Save the Children’s U.S. Early Education programs across the United States which ensure children enter school with the skills necessary for school success. These programs are a real difference maker for low-income families. Consider that 4-year-olds from low-income families are already up to 18 months developmentally behind their peers when kindergarten begins. But children who participate in the Early Education programs, when compared with children who don’t, are more likely to enroll in school, plan their families, become productive adults, and educate their own children. 

They are also less likely to repeat a grade, drop out of school, or engage in criminal activities. Building brighter futures for children starts right here with these kind of programs. This summer, we are proud to be participating in Save the Children’s SummerBoost Camp by donating Sunrays to various camp sites across the country. SummerBoost Camp works to curb children’s summer learning loss while providing them with opportunities to participate in enriching learning activities like photography and dance, develop their community involvement and service skills, 

 

and learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and healthy eating. Our goal is make sure EVERY child in the United States has a chance at a bright future. No child should be without shelter, without food, without education, without medical care but today 1 in 5 children in the United States grows up in poverty. We are determined to change that through our partnership with Save the Children. 

5. We think Sunrays make for excellent snacks for travelers. Can you share more about the many benefits of Sunrays as it relates to travel and everyday living? 

Sunrays are probably one of the best on-the-go snacks. Because of their small size and lightweight, they are easy to pack and carry. What’s more they’re also healthy and rich in nutrients – packed with vitamin C, potassium and fiber (not to mention they’re also sweet and juicy!). The peel, which keeps the fruit protected, is naturally biodegradable so you don’t even need to worry about waste.

When it comes to shelf life, Sunrays will normally stay fresh for 1 week in room temperature and 1-2 weeks when refrigerated.

Besides the fact that Sunrays make for a great, delicious snack, they also have some other incredible benefits. Sunrays can help your skin. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C present in Sunrays helps to protect the skin against damage caused by harmful UV rays and helps in revitalizing aging skin. 

We also can’t forget to mention the disease-fighting machine these little snacks bring. Once more, because of the significant level of vitamin C and other phytonutrients, Sunrays can help to boost your immune system and fight seasonal ailments such as colds and flu. Lastly, who can’t use a good relief from stress while traveling? The deep aromatic smell that Sunrays has is known to trigger a neurotransmitter within the brain, which gives you relief from stress. So, next time your flight is delayed, take a good sniff of Sunrays and feel rejuvenated.

Today 1 in 5 children in the United States grows up in poverty. We are determined to change that through our partnership with Save the Children.  

6. Where is the best place to find Sunrays? 

Sunrays continue to grow in recognition for its excellent eating quality and social impact. Today, one can find Sunrays at major retailers across the country, including (but not limited to) Aldi, BI-LO, Brookshire, Fairway, Fresh Direct, Hannaford, Ingles, Kroger, Market Basket, Meijer, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Tops Friendly Markets, and Winn-Dixie.

7. When it comes to travel, what destinations inspire you and why? 

That would have to be the Caribbean and Mediterranean. We’re all about vibrant colors, sunshine, and delicious cuisine. It is from these destinations that we try to incorporate all those elements into the 

Sunrays experience – from the vibrant colored packaging to the delicious fruit that we pack inside. A place where you can immerse yourself in full happiness – that’s the sort of destination we love.

Snack with Impact Recipe Inspo

1. Sunrays Citrus Spring 

photo by Two Tarts

Ready to lounge poolside and dive into a good book as you soak up the summer heat? Keep cool with an icy Sunrays Citrus Spring:

Ingredients:

  • juice of 2 Sunrays (about 1/4 cup)
  • juice of 1/2 small lemon (1/2 oz)
  • 1/2 oz triple sec
  • 1 1/2 oz vodka
  • sprig of rosemary
  • lemon zest
  • sugar

Recipe:


1. Moisten the rim of your glass with some fruit juice. (The juice helps the sugar to adhere better than water does.) Combine zest and sugar in a shallow bowl or plate. Turn the glass over onto plate and coat with sugar. 2. Fill your glass with ice, and then add juices, triple sec, and vodka. Stir. Garnish with rosemary sprig. (makes one)

2. Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

We love the taste of this delicious mandarin orange creamsicle smoothie found on Taste Love and Nourish. Add your favorite vanilla protein powder for a well-rounded snack after a hike or workout. 

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 mandarin oranges, peeled, segments separated and frozen
  • ½ banana, peeled and frozen
  • 4 to 6 ice cubes
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Recipe:

  • Combine all of the ingredients in the pitcher of your blender. Process on high speed until smooth
  • Pour into two serving glasses

photo by Taste Love and Nourish

3. Vegan Cinnamon Rolls – Campfire Style 

You’re heading to the beach or into the woods for a campfire with friends but need an easy but impressive dessert. We adore the idea of stuffing vegan pre-made cinnamon rolls into the shell of a mandarin. It’s also a great way to eliminate the need for a plate or utensils. ​Recipe adapted from Food Hacks. 

photo by Food Hacks

Ingredients:

  • Annie’s Organic Cinnamon Rolls with Icing
  • 4-8 large mandarins

Recipe:

  1. Slice mandarins in half or 1/3 from top
  2. Cut a small slice from the bottom of each so they stand up
  3. Using a grapefruit knife, remove the insides of each mandarin (freeze for mandarin orange creamsicle smoothie, above)
  4. Pop open the tube of cinnamon rolls and place a roll inside each hollowed orange
  5. Drizzle frosting over the cinnamon rolls
  6. Place mandarins on a fire-safe pan and cover with foil
  7. Place pan on a grate placed over a campfire and cook for 16-20 minutes, or until the cinnamon rolls are browned on the top
  8. Be careful when unwrapping! 

 

For more Sunrays inspiration head on over to sunrayscitrus.com. 

Kind Traveler CEO, Jessica Blotter, is a kindness curator who dreams of a world where people, animals, and the environment are treated with love and compassion. Follow her to discover where kindness can take you and insights on what it means to travel kindly. 

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