CINCINNATI – Chiquita Brands, a company known for its fresh and healthy food products, today launched new initiatives to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate program. As part of this campaign, September 20th is now "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables" Day at Chiquita as the company sponsors both consumer and employee nutrition engagement efforts beginning today through late Oct. Chiquita is a national strategic partner with the USDA's Nutrition Communicators Network.
"We're pleased to promote USDA's MyPlate program to help provide consumers and employees an easy way to incorporate healthy, fresh foods into their diets," said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer. "This is a great opportunity to engage our consumers and employees through fun nutritional contests, and also provide them with the tools they need to make healthier choices."
As part of this industry-wide effort to promote nutrition, Chiquita is participating in the Produce for Better Health Foundation's "MyPlate Makeover Challenge." This initiative, conducted during National Fruits and Veggies – More Matters month, provides consumers healthy food ideas and a vehicle to highlight how they can increase the fruits and vegetables they eat. Chiquita will support the "MyPlate Makeover Challenge" through social media as well as sponsoring a weekly "plate." Chiquita's sponsored plate will soon debut on the "MyPlate Makeover Challenge" Facebook page to show consumers how they can use Chiquita and Fresh Express products to "makeover" their meal plates with more fruits and vegetables. As part of the "MyPlate Makeover Challenge," consumers have the opportunity to upload photos of their meals that include half fruits and vegetables for a chance to win $100 grocery gift cards from the Produce for Better Health Foundation. Details can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fruits-VeggiesMore-Matters/103391981984?sk=app_225131720862670
Additionally, as part of Chiquita's efforts to improve world nutrition, a newly designed, social media-integrated Chiquita.com website will launch in October with enhanced healthy recipe and nutrition information sections based upon U.S. Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate program joint communication messages. Consumers will also see the MyPlate icon on the Chiquita® Bites line including Apple Bites, Grape Bites and Pineapple Bites products as they reach grocery store shelves during the next several months.
As part of the campaign, Chiquita is also committed to the health and wellness of its employees through its corporate culture program – Live!Chiquita. Through this global employee engagement program, which includes encouraging nutritious eating habits and healthy active lifestyles, the company will challenge employees to make half of their plates fruits and vegetables. The initiative will extend through National Fruits and Veggies – More Matters month.
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.
