Sanrio Springs Up During Strawberry Season with Tanaka Farms

Hello Kitty and friends continue fun educational experiences at Orange County, CA farm

Sanrio, Inc. announces new Spring activities in partnership with Irvine, CA, based Tanaka Farms as part of a year-long collaboration of all things healthy and supercute for springtime fun. Hello Kitty and Sanrio friends including Keroppi, Chococat, My Melody and Pochacco continue to be ambassadors to the farm with new Strawberry Tours and Workshops during Tanaka Farms' sweet berry season this Spring. Since 1940, Tanaka Farms has been a staple of the community, a working farm dedicated to providing families with quality produce and educational experiences.

The Sanrio collaboration with Tanaka Farms builds on Sanrio's mission of cultivating unique lifestyle experiences that touch every aspect of their fan's lives. Hello Kitty and Sanrio friends will be incorporated into the educational programming provided by Tanaka Farms, teaching visitors of all ages the importance of healthy eating, as well as sustainability, responsible farming and agriculture, all while supporting their local community. Hello Kitty, Keroppi, Chococat, My Melody and Pochacco are be integrated into photo ops throughout the farm as well as daily activities and seasonal celebrations throughout the year.

New commemorative Sanrio &heart; Tanaka Farms merchandise will also be available for purchase at the Farm's Market Stand (as well as online) and includes plush, T-shirts, tote bags, recyclable bags, mason jars, and button sets.

STRAWBERRY TOURS
Saturdays & Sundays, through June 2018
9:30a.m.-2:30p.m. every 30 minutes
$18 per person (ages 2 and under free admission)

A tour great for all ages, attendees can purchase tickets for the wagon ride around Tanaka's 30-acre farm. A friendly tour guide talks about the farm's history and farming methods, and shows the bounty of produce grown. The wagon makes several stops in different patches of the farm fields to discover and taste the diversity of seasonal fruits and vegetables. The final stop is the strawberry patch where riders learn how to choose and pick the best strawberries, and can fill up their own farm basket to take home. The strawberries are responsibly grown and safe to eat right off the vine. Sanrio photo opportunities are available along the way, and guests will receive a Sanrio themed paper crown as part of the tour.

"FARMER FOR A DAY" WORKSHOP
April 2-6, 2018
10:00a.m.-12:30p.m.
$25 per person for children ages 3 - 16*
(*ages 2 and under will receive free admission; ages under 16 must be accompanied by an adult)

Tanaka Farm visitors can learn how to be a farmer for a day and take part in hands-on activities on the farm and out in the fields. A friendly farm guide will teach how to plant seeds, transplant seedlings, as well as demonstrate the basics of weeding and harvesting. Farmers-in-training can harvest and pick their own vegetables then take their farm haul home in a Sanrio &heart; Tanaka Farms recyclable bag, along with a Hello Kitty seed packet. Visit the Tanaka Farms website to view the workshop times and to sign up.

SUNFLOWER WORKSHOP
Saturday, April 14 & Sunday, April 15, 2018
$10 per person (ages 6 and under free admission)

In this fun hands-on class, little gardeners will not only learn about how sunflowers grow from a small seed into a beautiful sun-loving flower, they will have the chance to decorate their own flower pot to plant with a seed and enjoy (and help it grow) at home. Visit the Tanaka Farms website to view the workshop times and to sign up.

GIANT PUMPKIN WORKSHOP
Saturday, May 19 & Sunday, May 20, 2018
$10 per person (ages 6 and under free admission)

While the beauty of Spring is in full swing, visitors can help plant ahead for the Fall harvest at Tanaka Farms and learn about their most beloved produce grown on site—giant pumpkins. A friendly farmer will talk about the cycle of seasons in farming, and demonstrate where and how they plant pumpkin seeds that will eventually grow into their prized giant gourds come October. Visit the Tanaka Farms website to view the workshop times and to sign up.

TABLE FOR TWO ONIGIRI RICE BALL WORKSHOP
Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10, 2018
$30 per person (Sanrio bento box included)

Learn to cook and eat healthy Japanese food in this unique, edible workshop in partnership with TABLE FOR TWO USA. With a mission to promote healthy eating and provide healthy school meals and food education to children in need, TABLE FOR TWO is one of the most well-known and fastest growing non-profit organizations in Japan. The workshop at Tanaka Farms will be a hands-on exercise in making onigiri—a Japanese rice snack made from white rice, formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and often wrapped in nori (seaweed). The workshop will show you how to make cute Hello Kitty shaped onigiri as well. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the Tanaka Farms gardens will be used as the ingredients for this special Sanrio-themed, onigiri-filled bento box. Visit the Tanaka Farms website to view the workshop times and to sign up.

A portion of the proceeds of the workshop will be donated to TABLE FOR TWO to provide school meals to children in need around the world

Additional farm workshops will continue with more details to come throughout the duration of strawberry season. Together, Sanrio and Tanaka Farms are creating unique and memorable experiences for Sanrio fans of all ages.

Tanaka Farms
Tanaka Farms is a family owned working farm which has been part of the rich fabric of Orange County farming history since 1940. Today this 30 acre gem in the heart of Irvine, CA, Tanaka Farms offers attracts over 100,000 guests per year for seasonal farm tours, visits to the Market Stand, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and special events. For more information, please visit www.tanakafarms.com.

About Sanrio
Sanrio is the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty®, who recently celebrated her 40th Anniversary. Home to many endearing characters including Chococat® My Melody®, Badtz-Maru® and Keroppi®, Sanrio was founded on the 'small gift, big smile®' philosophy - that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration for the broad spectrum of unique products and experiences. Today, more than 50,000 Hello Kitty-branded items are available in over 130 countries and upwards of 15,000 U.S. retail locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 35 Sanrio boutiques. For more information please visit www.sanrio.com and www.facebook.com/hellokitty.

Media requests: Modern Currency PR
Meghan Patke/Lisa Strangis (323) 377-7210
Meghan@moderncurrencypr.com | lisa@moderncurrencypr.com