From volunteer shifts and free concerts to red, white and blue foods, PFMA members helped turn the nation’s anniversary into a celebration rooted in Pennsylvania.
The combination of tradition and public participation ran through the America250 celebrations of PFMA members across Pennsylvania. Members volunteered at food banks, supported concerts, installed public art and created products for the 250th anniversary. Their work brought the commemoration into parks, stores and neighborhoods.
The red, white and blue milkshakes were hard to miss. PFMA members PA Dairymen’s Association and The GIANT Company introduced them through preview events at select stores, where the first 100 visitors received free shakes. The new blue raspberry flavor completed a trio created specifically for the milestone year.
“Pennsylvania is central to America’s story, and PFMA members helped residents celebrate this anniversary,” said Alex Baloga, PFMA president and CEO. “They supported neighbors, community events and local history, bringing the celebration into communities across the commonwealth.”
Service was central to the 2026 Pennsylvania Day. PFMA members Feeding Pennsylvania, The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful joined America250PA and other partners for projects focused on food insecurity. At the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank near Pittston, volunteers packed food for distribution across northeastern PA. The work followed years of Pennsylvania Day projects at food banks, pantries and community gardens across the state.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful also worked with America250PA on $32,500 in grants for seven volunteer-led projects. The selected efforts included cleanup, beautification and public-space improvements in communities from Philadelphia to Beaver Falls. Projects ranged from a mosaic mural in Lehighton to garden, orchard and trail work at Washington Crossing Historic Park.
Music gave the anniversary another stage. America250PA’s Commonwealth Concert Series brought five free concerts to communities across Pennsylvania. PFMA member The Hershey Company was a headliner sponsor of the June 13 stop at Hersheypark Stadium, which included The Avett Brothers and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. In Williamsport, PFMA member Weis Markets supported the Lycoming County Concert as an America250PA sponsor.
Philadelphia’s celebration stretched across 16 days through Wawa Welcome America. The free citywide festival ran from Juneteenth through July 4, with concerts, museum days and fireworks. PFMA member Wawa also released a Red, White and Blue Razz Lemonade and made a $50,000 contribution to the USO as part of its anniversary campaign. The company’s Hoagie Day tradition added tens of thousands of sandwiches to celebrations in Philadelphia.
Grocery stores became gathering points, promotional spaces and public art sites. PFMA member Wakefern Food Corp. released more than 30 Bowl & Basket products in patriotic packaging and ran anniversary rewards through ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer. One promotion offered a $75 ShopRite gift card after $250 in qualifying purchases. ShopRite stores in Yardley and Drexeline hosted artist-designed pieces in the Bells Across PA public art series.
PFMA members across PA turned everyday products into the America250 celebration. PFMA member Herr Foods invited the public to vote in its Flavored by Philly: Taste the 250 contest, drawing nearly 100,000 votes before releasing three winning potato chip flavors: Freedom Loaded Cheese Fries, Liberty Hickory Barbeque and United Jalapeño Cream Cheese. PFMA member Masser Family of Companies put Pennsylvania-grown red, white and blue petite potatoes into limited-edition patriotic packaging. PFMA member Asher’s Chocolate Co. created an America250 milk chocolate Liberty Bell and red, white and blue confections.
PFMA member Kraft Heinz, an official America250 sponsor, launched its United Tastes of America campaign. The campaign included star-shaped foods, America-themed pasta and patriotic packaging. PFMA member Campbell’s marked the anniversary with special packaging across several snack brands. Monster introduced a red, white and blue summer pack, while PepsiCo Foundation supported nonprofits through community grants focused on food security and local communities.
Other PFMA members found their own ways into the celebration. Painterland Sisters was featured by America250PA at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, while Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats’ mascot joined Hersheypark’s All-American Mascot Day. Sharing Excess joined an America250 service project in Philadelphia focused on fresh-food access and food recovery. Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association supplied member newspapers with ready-to-run print and digital advertising tied to America250PA.
Convenience retailers supported the anniversary through summer promotions. PFMA member Rutter’s launched its Summer of Freedom Sweepstakes with more than $400,000 in prizes and special $2.50 offers. Sheetz marked the America250 tour of Union Pacific’s Big Boy locomotive with $2.50 fuel at select Altoona-area stores. GetGo offered a series of 25-cent and $2.50 deals. PFMA member ACME Markets, part of Albertsons Companies, hosted a Star-Spangled Block Party at its Red Lion Road store in Philadelphia.
PFMA member Redner’s Markets carried A-Treat’s limited America250 Cherry Cola. Walmart supported the Our American Story traveling oral-history project, with selected recordings headed to the Library of Congress. ALDI’s seasonal aisle carried red, white and blue party goods during the anniversary summer. McCaffrey’s Food Markets promoted the Washington Crossing America 250 Gala.
America’s 250th anniversary reached across the nation. The celebration showed up in a food box packed for a neighbor, a free concert in a city park, a bell outside a grocery store and a Pennsylvania product brought to the summer table. Across the food and beverage Industry, members gave the people a way to participate. ■