CINCINNATI – Chiquita Brands (NYSE: CQB) announced it has become a National Strategic Partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Nutrition Communicator's Network. This Network is designed to mobilize and coordinate partner communications at both a national and community level, promoting the Dietary Guidelines and the new food icon, MyPlate, released in June 2011 by USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) and First Lady Michelle Obama. As a partner, Chiquita will work to promote MyPlate and the Dietary Guidelines messaging efforts to help consumers think differently about their food choices, starting with "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables." Chiquita is among the first national produce companies to join the network.
"As part of Chiquita's commitment to improving world nutrition, we are proud to partner with USDA to promote healthier diets," said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer. "The MyPlate program and the 'Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables' message makes it easier than ever for consumers to understand how to make healthier food choices and maintain well-balanced diets. We look forward to working together to help advance better nutrition."
Chiquita's mission to Improve World Nutrition aligns strongly with the mission of CNPP and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As a new USDA national strategic partner, Chiquita will promote product nutrition information based upon the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, disseminate CNPP's Dietary Guidelines messages, and participate in CNPP sessions to develop and execute a joint strategic nutrition promotion plan.
"Companies like Chiquita are helping consumers understand how and why choosing fruits and vegetables and other smart food choices can improve health and are an important part of our promotion and partnership efforts," said Dr. Robert Post, Deputy Director for the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. "That's because by working together we can double the efforts to empower consumers with the simple how-tos that help them put the Dietary Guidelines into action."
Chiquita will begin by placing the MyPlate icon on its healthy snacking products across North America to point consumers to the place where they can get science-based nutrition guidance. The Chiquita® Bites line will be the first to carry the MyPlate icon including Apple Bites, Grape Bites and Pineapple Bites later this year.
About Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) is a leading international marketer and distributor of nutritious, high-quality fresh and value-added food products – from energy-rich bananas, other fruits, blends of convenient green salads to healthy snacking products. The company markets its healthy, fresh products under the Chiquita® and Fresh Express® premium brands and other related trademarks. With annual revenues of more than $3 billion, Chiquita employs more than 21,000 people and has operations in nearly 70 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit our corporate web site at www.chiquitabrands.com.
Source: Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
