BRENTWOOD, MO - The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is once again making major moves to enrich our industry and promote increased produce consumption, with the launch of a vibrant new campaign. The organization is aiming to engage with more than 11,000 food and nutrition professionals, including registered dietitians (RDs), at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Conference and Expo (FNCE). At the expo, PBH will debut its new consumer call to action, Have A Plant™.

“This group of professional influencers are exceptionally important because, in most cases, they are on the front line, recommending products directly to consumers in their day-to-day interactions—in person and online,” commented Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and CEO. “We need this group on board to embrace a less prescriptive approach when it comes to suggesting eating more fruits and vegetables. We’ve heard from some of our influencer ambassadors who are dietitians that they love PBH’s new Have A Plant campaign, because it doesn’t seem so daunting and it gives them permission to be creative and more playful as they’re engaging with patients, clients, and consumers. At the end of the day, we don’t have to convince dietitians that fruits and veggies are healthy and nutritious. Rather, they are craving our tools to help them communicate with their audiences that fruits and veggies can have more of an immediate payoff—boosting your health, and maybe even your mood.”

Attendees of the expo will have the chance to participate in an in-booth photo experience that features member products, including those from Seneca, Del Monte Fresh, Sun-Maid Growers of California, and Stemilt Growers, according to a press release. The interactive booth allows attendees to interact and take pictures with their favorite fruits and vegetables in front of a playful Have a Plant backdrop to ignite a social media takeover.

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with such powerful partners as we debut Have A Plant among one of the largest influencer groups in the country,” said Katie Toulouse, Marketing and Communications Director. “Only together can we make an impact in inspiring this essential group to spread the fruit and veggie love in a way that actually motivates behavior change. And who doesn’t want to cuddle up with produce!”

PBH will also be activating “boots-on-the-ground education,” and will be co-hosting and presenting Have a Plant to multiple exclusive audiences throughout the show. Additional activities include:

• PBH will co-host 10+ media RDs at the Campbell Soup Company Headquarters, helping RDs explore kitchen personaes and seek out creative messages to increase produce consumption - Friday, October 25
• A “first date” with the National Dairy Council during a farm immersion tour with a group of influential RDs. Follow along on social media as the “power couple” makes it “Facebook official” - Saturday, October 26
• Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak will present mini booth sessions with Corteva, focusing on topics such as the importance of agriculture innovation, pesticide communications, and best-practices for promoting produce consumption - Sunday and Monday, October 27-28
• PBH will present a behind-the-scenes look into the Have a Plant campaign during the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion MyPlate National Strategic Partners meeting. The foundation will also be celebrating produce during evening receptions with the Tomato Wellness Council and Corteva - Monday, October 28

Will you be attending the expo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 27-29? Stop by booth #1142 to see what the buzz is about. AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the biggest updates in produce.

Produce for Better Health Foundation