Barbara's Bakery of Petaluma, CA and the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) announced on October 9, 2003 the launch of a new Barbara's breakfast cereal, Organic Wild Puffs, promoting NWRA's work to strengthen America's national wildlife refuges. The announcement at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, just an hour west of New York City, was timed to coincide with National Wildlife Refuge Week (October 12th-18th). The 2003 Refuge Week celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Refuge System.

Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System contains more than 540 refuges and 3,000 waterfowl production areas located throughout all 50 states and several U.S. territories. At 100 million acres, it is the world's largest system of lands and waters whose primary purpose is the conservation of wildlife and habitat. Our national refuges provide homes for 700 bird species, 220 mammal species, 250 reptile and amphibian species, and more than 200 kinds of fish — including 25 percent of all federal threatened and endangered species. Not only are there more refuge lands than there are National Parks — the places Americans so often think of first when imagining our most impressive natural landscapes — refuges are also more widespread than any other system of lands in the country.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is America's only organization dedicated exclusively to the protection, enhancement and expansion of the Refuge System. NWRA works with decision-makers in Washington, DC, educates the public and provides capacity-building resources to the more than 150 local refuge Friends volunteer organizations, thereby helping to ensuring a strong and vibrant future for this premier network of conservation lands and waters.

By creating a special breakfast cereal to raise the public's awareness of refuges and the important work of the NWRA, Barbara's Bakery — NWRA's Centennial Sponsor — has demonstrated a strong commitment to the conservation of wildlife in our country. Available in natural foods stores around the country, Organic Wild Puffs is a lightly sweetened organic puffed wheat cereal that the whole family will enjoy! For more information about Organic Wild Puffs and Barbara's Bakery, visit www.barbarasbakery.com

Now there are 4 varieties of Organic Wild Puffs!