Click to vote and get free trees for Kentucky State Parks

This is too easy to miss.

The Odwalla brand of fruit juices has set aside $200,000 for a national competition that began Tuesday, May 25. Every consumer vote equals a dollar for planting trees in state parks. The campaign ends once the $200,000 is allotted.

Go to www.odwalla.com/plantatree and cast a vote for Kentucky which results in trees planted at state parks.

Gerry van der Meer, commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Parks, urges everyone to go to the site and vote for Kentucky. “The Odwalla challenge is a simple way to help start replacing some of the trees we lost in last year’s ice storm,” he said. “Odwalla has created a fun way to compete among the 50 states and Kentucky State Parks could sure use the help,” he said. “With the challenges to our budget, every vote counts to generate some green,” he quipped. “Get to the site and vote for the home team!”

State parks located in western Kentucky in particular lost countless trees in 2009 as a result of the February ice storm. Votes for Kentucky in the Odwalla competition could help in planting replacements that will eventually off set the damage.

To track, there is a map on the web site that shows votes by state. This year is the first time the promotion has been on a national level. The trees will be provided over the summer of 2010.

For the past two years Odwalla has committed to state parks by donating money to help plant trees. They provide the trees, and voters on their web site decide how much support a state receives.

It’s simple to get involved and vote. Log on to www.odwalla.com/plantatree and vote for Kentucky. So far the commonwealth has 11 votes—six fewer than Tennessee. Texas is leading with more than 2,000 votes. Votes can be tracked at the same site.

Pennsylvania has racked up more than $25,000 for trees from Odwalla since the promotion was initiated. “The more votes for Kentucky, the more trees we can replace of those taken by severe weather over the past 18 months,” van der Meer added. “I’m challenging the park friends groups, foundation and anyone who has ever enjoyed a Kentucky State Park to vote. Let’s grow, Kentucky.”