PBH Industry Names 48 Role Models & Champions
January 25, 2013 | 6 min to read
Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has named 48 non-retail companies within the fruit and vegetable industry as Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Role Models and Champions for 2012 in recognition of their support for the national public health campaign and for PBH. A total of 34 companies earned Role Model status (the top level of recognition) and 14 achieved Champion status, double the number from 2011.
The industry Role Models are:
- American Frozen Food Institute
- Barsotti Juice Company
- Bayer CropScience
- Blue Book Services
- California Avocado Commission
- Canned Food Alliance
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
- Chelan Fresh Marketing
- Del Monte Foods
- Del Monte Fresh Produce
- Dole Food Company
- Domex Superfresh Growers
- Duda Farm Fresh Foods
- Giorgio Fresh Mushrooms
- Kellogg Company
- Market Fresh Produce, LLC
- McDonald’s Corporation
- Melissa’s
- Monsanto Vegetable Seeds
- Mushroom Council
- Pacific Coast Producers
- Pear Bureau Northwest
- Produce Marketing Association
- Rainier Fruit Co., Inc.
- Ruiz Sales
- Seneca Foods Corporation
- Stemilt Growers, Inc.
- Sunkist Growers
- Sun-Maid Growers of California
- Taylor Farms
- Vance Publishing
- The Walt Disney Company
- Wawona Frozen Foods
- Wholly Guacamole
PBH would like to especially recognize Stemilt Growers, Inc. who was the first Industry Role Model and has earned this recognition status for five consecutive years, as well as the companies who earned Role Model status for the first time in 2012:
- Bayer Cropscience
- California Avocado Commission
- Canned Food Alliance
- Market Fresh Produce, LLC
- Melissa’s
- Ruiz Sales
- Sunkist Growers
- Taylor Farms
- Vance Publishing
- Wawona Frozen Foods
- Wholly Guacamole
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Chelan Fresh Marketing, and Rainier Fruit Co., Inc. earned Role Model status for the 4th time in 2012, and the following companies earned the status for the 3rd time:
- Del Monte Fresh Produce
- Domex Superfresh Growers
- Duda Farm Fresh Foods
- McDonald’s Corporation
- Produce Marketing Association
- Seneca Foods Corporation
- Sun-Maid Growers of California
Several industry companies earned Role Model status for the 2nd time in 2012:
- American Frozen Food Institute
- Barsotti Juice Co.
- Blue Book Services
- Del Monte Foods
- Dole Food Company
- Giorgio Fresh Mushrooms
- The Kellogg Company
- Monsanto Vegetable Seeds
- The Mushroom Council
- Pacific Coast Producers
- Pear Bureau Northwest
- The Walt Disney Company
Their combined support encompassed:
o Placing Fruits & Veggies—More Matters logo on packaging, bins, poly bags and totes
o Linking to www.FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org website
o Speaking about Fruits & Veggies—More Matters during meetings and presentations
o Including Fruits & Veggies—More Matters messaging and logo in employee newsletters and health focused programs, in advertising and PR efforts, in marketing and collateral materials, and in wellness programs and community outreach efforts
o Participating as a PBH Board of Trustees member
o Serving on PBH’s Executive Committee
o Serving on PBH board-level committees and task forces
o Attending annual board meeting and dinner/auction
The industry Champions for 2012 are:
- Bard Valley Date Mejool
- Brothers International
- California Strawberry Commission
- GA Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
- Grimmway Farms
- HMC Farms
- Lipman Produce
- Mariani Packaging Co.
- Oppenheimer Group
- Phillips Mushrooms
- Subway World Headquarters
- The United States Sweet Potato Council
- U.S. Potato Board
- Vidalia Onion Committee
Phillips Mushrooms has earned the recognition for the 3rd year, and Grimmway Farms and The United States Sweet Potato Council for the 2nd year. All other listed companies are first-time honorees.
Examples of support from the Champions are:
o Placed the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters logo on packaging, bins, poly bags, and totes
o Placed logo on non-edible food items
o Linked to FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org website
o Included Fruits & Veggies—More Matters in advertising and promotions, in PR and marketing efforts, as well as speaking platforms
“We’re extremely proud and appreciative of the efforts contributed by all these Role Models and Champions to remind consumers that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is important through use of the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters logo and messaging,” said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of PBH. “I am especially pleased to recognize all of the companies who earned either Role Model or Champion status for the first time in 2012.”
Pivonka added that she is looking forward to formally recognizing these companies during a special Role Model and Champion recognition luncheon to be held during the general session of PBH’s Annual Conference on March 14th in San Francisco, California. Organizations within the fruit and vegetable industry can earn PBH Role Model and Champion honors for helping to realize the power the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters health campaign has to influence consumption, and boost bottom lines in the process. For more information on becoming a Role Model or Champion view the criteria on the PBH website. Separate criteria can be viewed for Supermarket Retailers. The foundation will identify and reference these role models in the ongoing public relations activities of Fruits & Veggies—More Matters.
About Produce for Better Health Foundation
Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) fruit and vegetable education foundation. Since 1991, PBH has worked to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. PBH achieves success through industry and government collaboration, first with the 5 A Day program and now with the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters public health initiative. Fruits & Veggies-More Matters is the nation's largest public-private, fruit and vegetable nutrition education initiative with Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators in each state, territory and the military. To learn more, visit www.PBHFoundation.org and www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org. Follow Fruits & Veggies-More Matters on Facebook or Twitter.
PBH is also a member and co-chair with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA), consisting of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry working to collaboratively and synergistically achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health. To learn more, visit www.NFVA.org.
Source: Produce for Better Health Foundation