BRENTWOOD, MO - For those of us in the produce biz, every month is devoted to fresh, but Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is making it easier for consumers to recognize the importance of produce through its second annual National Fruit & Veggies Month (NVFM) campaign. This month-long celebration offers Americans a simple reason to come together: having fun with fruits and vegetables for happier, healthier lives. With nine out of 10 Americans not eating enough fruits and vegetables, this campaign takes on a new priority.

“National Fruits & Veggies Month is all about shining a spotlight on fruits and vegetables through innovative and engaging digital and social activities, and showing how they can play a starring role in nutritious, delicious, and balanced meals and snacks,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and CEO. “This year, PBH’s dynamic new campaign, Have A Plant® Nation, is rallying all Americans to enjoy more plant-packed meals—in every color, shape, and form—and recognizing the power of plants to support health; boost mood; and foster connection.”

This year’s NFVM theme, Have A Plant Nation, is poised to make PBH’s Have A Plant Movement bigger than ever, a press release noted. Have A Plant Nation will highlight why fresh produce at the center of the plate inspires family connections and celebrates the diverse ways we eat food across the nation. It highlights how industry members and influencers alike can come together to advocate for more fruits and vegetables being consumed.

Four key themes will be woven throughout the month-long event starting August 31. They are as follows.

• Connecting Over Fruit and Veggie-Filled Family Meals: Through a partnership with the FMI Foundation’s Family Meals Movement, PBH will help showcase how families can connect through mealtime
• Celebrating Plants in Every Color, Shape, and Form: Different fruits, veggies, and plant-filled dishes can evoke special memories, speak to our unique backgrounds, and remind us of favorite hometown flavors
• Improving Public Health with Fruits & Veggies: Whether canned, dried, fresh, frozen, or 100 percent juice, all fruits and veggies play a role in improving health and happiness. NFVM is the perfect time to rally the nation around the mind and body benefits from nature’s original plant foods
• Better Together: Pairing Produce for Happier, Healthier Lives: Fruit and veggie advocates—from produce industry stakeholders as well as foodservice establishments and retailers to health professionals, chefs and lifestyle bloggers—are championing ways to combine fruits and veggies with other nutritious foods for happier, healthier lives. PBH will introduce new guests at the table and showcase how balanced, wholesome meals—featuring produce with other nutrient-rich foods like beef, dairy and whole grains—come together to fuel health and happiness

PBH explained that both retailers and consumers can engage with the movement by doing the following:

• Spread the Fruit and Veggie Love on Social Media: Challenge family, friends, colleagues and your community to get involved. Include the hashtags, #haveaplant, #NFVM2020 and #haveaplantpledge
• Participate in PBH’s Have A Plant® Tweet Chat with FVAA Beau Coffron: Engage with PBH followers through a fun tweet chat that highlights the importance of family meals, along with fun tips and tricks to enjoy more plant-packed foods each and every day to fuel health and happiness
• Take the Have A Plant Pledge: Who says resolutions for healthier, happier lives have to wait until January? This year, commit to adding one more fruit or vegetable to your routine every day throughout NFVM. Take the Have A Plant® Pledge and download the graphic to share on your social media channels using #haveaplantpledge
• Rock the Swag

PBH will also partner with its superstar network of more than 20 influencers—the Fruit and Vegetable Ambassadors in Action (FVAA)—to spread the Have A Plant love across the country through social media takeovers, original video content, and creative infographics and resources, on their own platforms and across PBH’s social channels.

At the end of the month, a two-day virtual, exclusive event will take place for PBH influencers will bridge the gaps between retail, foodservice, and lifestyle sectors.

“Reaching consumers is PBH’s forte and activating influencers is our sweet spot,” stated Katie Toulouse, Marketing and Communications Director. “This unique and exclusive virtual experience will spark inspiration through actionable education, intimate networking, plant-forward tasting experiences as well as broad-spectrum digital and social media amplification.”

As we continue to follow along with the marketing efforts of our produce innovators, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Produce for Better Health Foundation