Produce For Better Health Foundation Announces New Virtual Influencer Event
BRENTWOOD, MO - As the produce industry takes the virtual world by storm, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has announced that it will be hosting a virtual influencer event to celebrate the finale of National Fruits and Veggies month. The Have A Plant® Nation Virtual Influencer Event will offer education and solutions for those in retail, foodservice, and the online marketplace. The event will be held September 29–30.
“COVID-19 has completely disrupted how we traditionally connect and engage to build powerful partnerships that promote fruits and vegetables,” explained Sharese Roper, Member Engagement Director at PBH. “In my day-to-day conversations with our members, it became clear that the abrupt shift to a fully virtual world created a void as well as a subsequent craving for intimate engagement and meaningful relationship building with the people who, even during stay-at-home orders, are inspiring consumers and their shopping lists every day.”
The advent of this newest event comes one year after PBH declared September as National Fruits and Veggies Month as part of its plan to garner new support for fruit and veggie consumption across the nation. According to a press release, the event aims to expand the reach of the company’s Have a Plant movement, along with a new National Fruits and Veggies Month toolkit to promote healthy eating habits.
Additionally, PBH has created industry partnerships to continue its strategy and expand education about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. PBH will partner with the FMI Foundation with an emphasis on produce-packed family meals, National Dairy Council (NDC) with #haveaplantwith dairy, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) with #unitedontheplate, and more.
“Now more than ever, it’s important to provide the public with the information and inspiration they are seeking regarding their health and well-being,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and CEO. “In addition to PBH as a credible source of science-based information, Americans also rely on health and nutrition professionals, culinary and fitness experts as trusted sources for information. The PBH Have a Plant Nation Virtual Influencer Event unites important retail and foodservice professionals as well as healthy lifestyle influencers with fruit and vegetable industry leaders to inspire actionable solutions that can positively impact consumers’ consumption habits.”
As PBH continues to strategically expand its outreach, the two-day virtual event that it is hosting will feature education sessions, virtual tasting, and virtual small group visits that will include video sessions for 10-12 influencers at once.
Those in attendance will get exclusive first-look access to PBH’s signature 2020 State of The Plate: Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in America research, and get to gain insights for top C-suite industry members. Leaders from the likes of Taylor Farms, Frieda’s, Dole Packaged Foods, Sun-Maid Growers of California, and many more are expected to speak.
“While we’re disappointed that we can’t see everyone in person during this time, we are looking forward to this unique opportunity to continue to reap the benefits from PBH’s signature service through this virtual education platform,” remarked Nichole Towell, Senior Director, Marketing Services of Duda Farm Fresh Foods. “Events are just one way the produce industry can get involved to leverage all that PBH has to offer, which is why we engage with their multi-faceted surround-sound approach customized package each year. We know now we cannot rely on in-person events and experiences alone, and we are thrilled to have PBH as our partner to help us flip the switch to turn a traditional demo into a truly meaningful (virtual) experience.”
As if the educational opportunities weren’t enough, PBH invited over 50 strategically-selected influencers from retail, foodservice, and the PBH Fruit and Vegetable Ambassadors in Action (FVAA) Influencer Network. Among those in attendance include Albertsons, Bloomin’ Brands, Sysco, and many more. To see the full list, click here.
As COVID-19 continues to change the landscape of events, PBH is adapting to continue to bring our industry together in exciting new ways. With education and innovation as key elements of growth, we here at ANUK look forward to seeing what new events will continue to inspire us, even in the virtual world.
