Chiquita Sponsors MyPlate Nutrition

Chiquita Brands launches new initiatives to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate program. As part of this campaign, September 20th is now "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables" Day at Chiquita as the company sponsors both consumer and employee nutrition engagement efforts beginning today through late Oct. Chiquita is a national strategic partner with the USDA's Nutrition Communicators Network.

 

"We're pleased to promote USDA's MyPlate program to help provide consumers and employees an easy way to incorporate healthy, fresh foods into their diets," says Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer. "This is a great opportunity to engage our consumers and employees through fun nutritional contests, and also provide them with the tools they need to make healthier choices."

 

As part of this industry-wide effort to promote nutrition, Chiquita is participating in the Produce for Better Health Foundation's "MyPlate Makeover Challenge." This initiative, conducted during National Fruits and Veggies - More Matters month, provides consumers healthy food ideas and a vehicle to highlight how they can increase the fruits and vegetables they eat. Chiquita will support the "MyPlate Makeover Challenge" through social media as well as sponsoring a weekly "plate." Chiquita's sponsored plate will soon debut on the "MyPlate Makeover Challenge" Facebook page to show consumers how they can use Chiquita and Fresh Express products to "makeover" their meal plates with more fruits and vegetables. As part of the "MyPlate Makeover Challenge," consumers have the opportunity to upload photos of their meals that include half fruits and vegetables for a chance to win $100 grocery gift cards from the Produce for Better Health Foundation. 

 

Additionally, as part of Chiquita's efforts to improve world nutrition, a newly designed, social media-integrated Chiquita.com website will launch in October with enhanced healthy recipe and nutrition information sections based upon U.S. Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate program joint communication messages. Consumers will also see the MyPlate icon on the Chiquita Bites line including Apple Bites, Grape Bites and Pineapple Bites products as they reach grocery store shelves during the next several months.