Hockessin, Del.- Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has named seven Retail Role Models and seven Retail Champions for their extraordinary support of the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® national public health initiative in 2010. These companies will be formally recognized with awards during the foundation's Role Model/Champion Recognition Luncheonheld at PBH's Annual Meeting in Monterey, CA.
Seven retailers achieved Role Model status. They include; Ahold USA, Inc., Defense Commissary Agency, Food Lion Stores, Inc., The Kroger Company, Safeway, Inc., Schnuck Markets, Inc., and SuperValu/W. Newell & Company.
Seven retailers achieved Champion status. They include; The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc., Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Big Y Foods, Inc., Meijer, Inc., Redner's Markets, Inc., Save Mart Supermarkets, and Weis Markets, Inc..
"We're extremely appreciative of the efforts contributed by all of our retail donors to spread Fruits & Veggies-More Matters messages to consumers," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of PBH. "These Retail Role Models and Champions went above and beyond in their support of PBH's mission to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. By going the extra mile to attain Role Model or Champion status, these retailers are also demonstrating a commitment to their customers' better health and we feel that deserves to be recognized."
To achieve Champion status, a retailer must consistently demonstrate support for Fruits & Veggies-More Matters in a variety of categories such as placing the logo on in-store signage and linking to the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters website and placing copy or creating a page about Fruits & Veggies More Matters on the company's consumer website. In order to achieve Role Model status, a retailer must fulfill the Champion level requirements and additionally implement other strategies that support Fruits & Veggies-More Matters.
Pivonka added that PBH is looking to grow their list of role models each year. Retailers can earn PBH Role Model or Champion honors for helping to realize the power the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters health initiative has to influence consumption, and boost bottom lines in the process. For more information on becoming a Retail Role Model, view the Retail Role Model criteria on the PBH website. 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 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
