SCARBOROUGH — Superhero peas and flying, cape-wearing carrots created by child-artists in this year’s Design-a-Bag contest will decorate reusable shopping bags at Hannaford Supermarkets in 2013, the company announced on Earth Day.

Hundreds of children aged 7 to 13 in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts created designs around the theme: “What kind of superhero can help us learn to eat healthy foods?” Judges reviewed the submissions and selected winners from each state.

Zaccary Gauthier, a 13-year-old from Auburn, created the top overall design. His image of “the Aveggers” – a collection of five strong, happy-looking produce superheroes – appears on one side of the bag. Designs by the four other state winners appear on the opposite side of the bag, which is available at all Hannaford stores.

“These unique works of art will make Hannaford customers smile,” said Molly Tarleton, community relations specialist. “The bags are a fun reminder that we can all make healthy choices about food and about the environment.”

Each state winner participated in bag-signing events on Earth Day weekend in April at a local Hannaford, received a $100 Hannaford gift card and will have their work displayed on bags sold in all 181 Hannaford stores throughout the Northeast. The children’s designs also have been published on Hannaford’s website.