Anvil Knitwear Joins Forces with Farm Aid at Annual Benefit Concert to Support US Family Farmers

(3BL Media) New York - September 20, 2012 - Anvil Knitwear, a leading manufacturer of sustainable apparel and one of the largest buyers of US grown organic and transitional cotton, continues to show support for US cotton farmers at the annual Farm Aid benefit concert with a sponsorship of Anvil’s eco collection t-shirts made with organic cotton grown in accordance with the USDA National Organic Program standards. The Farm Aid concert, taking place on September 22^nd at Hersheypark Stadium in Pennsylvania, raises funds to support programs that keep family farmers on the land.

Since 2009, Anvil has been the official t-shirt sponsor of Farm Aid and has helped raised more than $500,000 in concert t-shirt sales to date to support the organization’s mission.  “Farm Aid and Anvil are building a better kind of agriculture with a righteous concert t-shirt, made with organic cotton,” said Glenda Yoder, Associate Director of Farm Aid. “We’re showcasing sustainable, innovative family farmers and offering eaters and wearers the chance to support those family farmers with their purchases."

As part of Anvil’s ongoing commitment to support US organic cotton farmers and those transitioning to organic farming methods, the responsible t-shirt manufacturer also encourages consumers to support organic farmers through their purchasing decisions. “What we’d like to see in the future is a strong link between what we wear and how it’s made. When consumers choose organic, they’re contributing to support family farmers who use responsible farming methods. We believe that more farmers will be inspired to convert to organic farming methods if the demand is there,” stated Anthony Corsano, Senior Vice President, Gildan, owner of the Anvil® brands.  

The star-studded lineup at Farm Aid 2012 includes Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, performing with Crazy Horse, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, performing with Tim Reynolds.  In addition, the stellar lineup includes Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson, ALO, Pegi Young & The Survivors, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Jamey Johnson and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

For updates about Farm Aid 2012, visit www.farmaid.org and join the conversation at www.facebook.com/farmaid and www.twitter.com/farmaid.

About Anvil Knitwear

Anvil Knitwear, Inc. started making cotton work clothes over a century ago. Today, Anvil is a leading sustainable apparel brand, serving the printwear and private label markets with its AnvilOrganic® and AnvilSustainable® trademarks. Anvil Knitwear is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gildan Activewear Inc., one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated marketers and manufacturers of quality branded basic family apparel. The Company is one of the largest domestic purchasers of US grown organic cotton and has been consecutively ranked as a top ten brand of organic cotton by the Textile Exchange. For more information visit www.anvilknitwear.com and www.gildan.com.

About Farm Aid

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $40 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

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