Most Americans know they should, and desperately want to, eat more fruits and vegetables; they also recognize they need support from others to achieve their goals. The Produce for Better Health Foundation announced its 2018 Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Award recipients as those who have gone above and beyond to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. To be considered for these accolades, individuals, businesses — including those within the produce industry as well as those in retail and foodservice — and public health organizations must demonstrate support for the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters brand platform and engage in community outreach with the collective goal to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The outstanding efforts of these organizations and individuals will be acknowledged formally at an awards luncheon on April 23 during PBH’s Consumer Connection conference in Scottsdale, AZ.

“The more than 70 award recipients are strong advocates and partners with PBH, focused on our common mission to inspire consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables every single day,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, president and chief executive officer of PBH. “PBH is thrilled to be aligned with such passionate people at the forefront of our industry and with those who are interacting directly with consumers daily to help them achieve happier, healthier lives by eating more fruits and veggies.”

“No one person or organization can change Americans’ collective fruit and vegetable consumption. Partnership and collaboration are key to seeing the needle move. It is important to recognize supporters like these who have a played a critical role in helping to change consumers’ fruit and vegetable consumption behaviors,” says Reinhardt Kapsak. “As we begin our next phase in PBH’s strategic transformation, including a new behavior-based consumer call-to-action, PBH will continue to operate with a collaborative spirit and a desire to partner with a wide variety of stakeholders to increase produce consumption.”

About Industry Role Models
These companies have demonstrated their dedication to helping consumers eat more fruits and veggies by leveraging the More Matters brand in their collective communication platforms, as well as supporting PBH through their own channels.

PBH is also delighted to announce the 2018 Excellence Award Honorees (listed below). These Honorees have demonstrated the greatest amount of support in terms of breadth and depth for PBH throughout 2018 and have played an integral role in PBH’s new brand transformation, which will also be launched at The Consumer Connection.   

2018 Industry Role Models:

• American Frozen Food Institute
• Barsotti Family Juice Co.
• Bayer
• Black Gold Farms
• Blue Book Services Inc.
• California Avocado Commission
• California Strawberry Commission
• Campbell Soup Co.
• Can Manufacturers Institute
• Canned Food Alliance
• Chelan Fresh Marketing
• Del Monte Foods Inc.
• Dole Food Co.
• Dole Packaged Foods LLC
• Domex Superfresh Growers
• Duda Farm Fresh Foods
• Juice Products Association
• Mariani Packing Company Inc.
• McEntire Produce Inc.
• Monterey Mushrooms Inc
• Naturipe Farms LLC
• Okanagan Specialty Fruits
• Pacific Coast Producers
• Potatoes USA
• Produce Marketing Association
• Robinson Fresh
• Ruiz Sales Inc.
• Sage Fruit Co.
• Seneca Foods Corp.
• Southern Specialties
• Stemilt Growers LLC
• Subway
• Sun-Maid Growers of California
• Sysco/FreshPoint
• The Oppenheimer Group
• The Produce News
• USA Pears from Pear Bureau Northwest
• Ventura Foods
• Wawona Frozen Foods
• Wonderful Citrus

2018 Excellence Awardees:

• Chris Christian, California Strawberry Commission
• Rich Dachman, Sysco/FreshPoint
• Charlie Eagle, Southern Specialties
• Matt Middleton, Ventura Foods
• Jason Osborn, Wonderful Citrus
• Roger Pepperl, Stemilt Growers LLC
• Garland Perkins, The Oppenheimer Group
• Richard Ruiz, Ruiz Sales Inc.
• Carolyn Takata, Silgan Containers
• Trish Zecca, Campbell Soup Co.

About Retail Role Models and Supermarket Dietitians of the Year
In addition to the ability to use the widely recognized Fruits & Veggies—More Matters logo on products and promotions, PBH provides retailers and dietitians with resources, including educational materials and POS such as ad slicks and signs for use in store.

PBH is also pleased to announce the 2018 Supermarket Dietitians of the Year. The Supermarket Dietitian of the Year Award recognizes the top supermarket registered dietitians and/or health and wellness staff for their support of Fruits & Veggies—More Matters and the collective goal of increasing the sale and consumption of fruit and vegetables.  

 2018 Retail Role Models:

• Coborn’s
• K-VA-T Food Stores Inc.
• Redner’s Markets
• Schnuck Markets Inc.
• Skogen’s Festival Foods
• SpartanNash
• Wakefern Food Corp.
• Weis Markets Inc.

2018 Supermarket Dietitians of the Year:

• Julianne Gallo, Inserra Supermarkets
• Mary Lavanway, Hannaford Supermarkets
• Emily Parent, Coborn’s
• Bridget Wojciak, The Kroger Co.