Ottawa, – The Half Your Plate Campaign is thrilled to announce that Chef Michael Smith will act as the brand’s new ambassador. One of Canada’s most recognizable Chefs, Smith is a passionate advocate for cooking fresh, healthy food at home. Host of Chef Michaels Kitchen, Chef Abroad and Chef at Home on Food Network Canada, Smith has devoted his life to helping Canadians create a healthy food lifestyle that includes lots of daily fruits and vegetables.
“We are thrilled to announce Chef Michael Smith’s involvement with the campaign. Not only is he an excellent Chef, we feel that he truly embodies the philosophy of the Half Your Plate campaign. Together we will educate Canadians on how simple and affordable it is to incorporate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables into every meal and snack,” says Ron Lemaire, President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association. “We need to get families back in the kitchen preparing fresh and healthy meals, and Chef Michael is the perfect ambassador to inspire change.”
“I’m a big fan of Half Your Plate and proud to be joining the team,” says Smith. “We all know how important it is to eat lots of fruits and vegetables every single day but not all of us know how. That’s where I come in. It’s my mission to remind everyone how simple healthy cooking is, that it’s not expensive, difficult or time consuming. We’re all in this together and together we can help every family improve their health, every day.”
Smith will make his first appearance for Half Your Plate on April 16th at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 90th Annual Convention and Trade Show on Montreal, where he will discuss with industry leaders the importance of improving food skills and encouraging healthier eating.
The Half Your Plate Campaign was launched in January 2015 by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and health partners the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Public Health Association, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This new healthy living initiative empowers Canadians of all ages to eat more fruits and veggies to improve their health while providing simple and practical ways to add a variety of produce to every meal and snack. The campaign emphasizes how fun, practical and easy it is to prepare a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for meals and snacks at home, at school, at work, eating out or on the go. More information is available at www.halfyourplate.ca.
About the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA):
Based in Ottawa, Ontario, CPMA is a not-for-profit organization that represents companies that are active in the marketing of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables in Canada from farm gate to dinner plate. CPMA's vision is to enable and lead the produce industry by enhancing the market and facilitating trade of fresh fruits and vegetables for its members.
Source: Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA)
