The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • T2

2T FOOD WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 2019 A PUBLICATION OF THE MCCLATCHY COMPANY 421 Fayetteville Suite 104, Raleigh, NC 27601 800-522-4205, newsobserver.com For customer service regarding delivery, please send email to from a record 544,000 entries, according to a statement issued by the company. Winner Kairi Yang has a cute habit of and she the judging panel with her delicate expression and the look of ac- cording to a web page devoted to the contest. She is the child of an extended immigrant family from Southeast erber baby foods has named a 1- year-old girl from Hickory, North Carolina, as its 2019 Asia that settled in North Carolina, according to an interview the family did Tuesday with The Today Show. Kairi will serve the face of Gerber for the including a key role in the 2019 social media campaign, said a release. Her family also gets $50,000, according to a statement from Gerber.

The winning baby was in Hickory, they told The Today Show. we first found out Kairi won, we were speechless and believe it. We are beyond Ying Vue said in a release from Gerber. The 2019 Spokesbaby web site notes Kairi is a nickname her mother used while in high school. The site also reveals the baby is fond of play- ing hide and seek with her dad, loves chicken nuggets and Arrowroot Cookies, and has a habit of making a when she gets excited.

Gerber said in a press release that it launched the photo contest in 2010 after being by the countless photos received over the years of parents who see their little ones in iconic baby The number of submis- sions has grown each year, the company said. The contest made headlines last year when it chose 2-year-old Lucas Warren to be the first baby with Down syndrome to represent the company, reported the Miami Her- ald. Lucas is from Dalton, Georgia. been an incredible year celebrating our 2018 Spokesbaby Lucas War- ren and his family, and we are excited to see the world fall in love all over again with our newest said a statement from Bill Partyka, presi- dent and CEO. Mark Price profile: 704-358-5149, Mark Price revealed Tuesday on Today Show, where Kairi appeared on live TV chewing on one finger while her parents, Peter Yang and Ying Vue, chat- ted with the hosts.

The couple revealed on the show that she is their first child, and they are Hmong (an ethic group from Southeast Asia). The couple a home with their parents, aunts, uncles and cou- This is Kairi winning photo, according to Gerber. It was among 544,000 entries in the contest. Photo courtesy Gerber and the Yang family of Hickory, North Carolina. baby from Hickory, NC, named official for 2019 By Mark Price CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM.