Produce For Better Health Foundation Announces New Industry Recognition Programs

To continue its longstanding history of identifying and honoring the hard work of industry members who have gone ‘above and beyond’ in their support of the foundation’s mission, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is pleased to announce the PBH Ambassador and Supermarket Dietitians of the Year recognition programs.  Both programs will run January-December each year with formal recognition given to the honorees during PBH’s annual conference held each Spring.   

A PBH Ambassador is an individual passionate about the foundation’s mission and the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® national health campaign and who are putting this passion to work.  Each year Ambassador Excellence Awards will be given to the top ambassadors who have demonstrated the greatest amount of support, in terms of breadth and depth, to PBH.  Twenty-three individuals have already agreed to serve as PBH Ambassadors.

o Tracy Altman, Wholly Guacamole
o Leah Brakke, Black Gold Farms
o Katie Calligaro, Canned Food Alliance
o Chavanne Hansen, Nestle
o Brett Libke, The Oppenheimer Group
o Sarah Ludmer, Del Monte Foods
o Megan McKenna, National Mango Board
o Matt Middleton, Ventura Foods
o Kraig Naasz, American Frozen Food Institute
o Howard Nager, Domex Superfresh Growers
o Paul Palmby, Seneca Foods
o Roger Pepperl, Stemilt Growers, Inc.
o Paulette Pierson, Monsanto Vegetable Seeds
o Mac Riggan, Chelan Fresh Marketing
o Richard Ruiz, Ruiz Sales
o Allen Sabatier, Del Monte Fresh Produce
o Xander Shapiro, Del Monte Foods
o Rich Tavoletti, Canned Food Alliance
o Brian Threlfall, Giorgio Fresh Mushrooms
o Nichole Towell, Duda Farm Fresh Foods
o Peggy Walker, Vance Publishing
o Mark Weinfeld, DGWB
o Suzanne Wolter, Rainier Fruit Company

The second recognition program, PBH’s Supermarket Dietitians of the Year, will recognize the top supermarket RDs and/or health and wellness staff for their support of Fruits & Veggies—More Matters.  Individuals recognized for this award will be those who act as a catalyst within the supermarket to support the brand by:

* Placing the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters brand logo on in-store signage, roll bags, produce bags
* Promoting the brand through social media and other online channels such as customer e-newsletters
* Organizing a promotion of the brand during Fruits & Veggies—More Matters month in September, and/or
* Incorporating the brand into community outreach efforts (wellness clinics, school visits, store stores)

“I am extremely excited to not only announce PBH’s two newest recognition programs but to acknowledge the individual ambassadors who have already extended their formal support for the program,” says Elizabeth Pivonka, president and CEO of PBH, the nonprofit entity in partnership with CDC behind the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® national public health initiative.  “We are so appreciative of the collective efforts and support of the industry as a whole and currently recognize outstanding companies through our Champion and Role Model program.  We also, however, wanted programs to recognize individuals within the industry for their support of PBH’s mission and the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters brand.  The PBH Ambassador program and Supermarket Dietitians of the Year accomplishes this and will honor these folks for all of their efforts.”

More information on both programs, as well as submission forms, can be found on the PBH Foundation website.

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 works 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