BALTIMORE, MD – Baltimore-area businesses are joining the PMA ‘eat brighter!’ campaign to inspire young children and their families to eat more fresh produce.

Fresh produce supplier East Coast Fresh and Baltimore-headquartered Mars Super Markets are putting an emphasis on produce marketing by using Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and several other furry faces on packages of fresh fruits and vegetables, according to a press release.  Mars is the first retailer to partner with a supplier like East Coast Fresh to offer the ‘eat brighter!’ product in stores.

East Coast Fresh serves 2,500 retail stores east of the Mississippi, and it will be including 20 of its 130+ products in its ‘eat brighter!’ marketing program, according to a press release. Ross Foca, President of East Coast Fresh says that his company will measure success by how many of the company’s retail partners join and by monitoring sales numbers.

“For sales, we truly expect them to go up, and I feel OK about that because we’re helping customers to become healthier,” Foca said.  “We’re excited about increasing sales and targeting a younger generation of families with a program that’s coming with no additional costs to them.”

Mars Super Markets has 17 grocery stores in Baltimore, Harford, Howard and Anne Arundel counties.  The retailer hosted an event to kick off the Sesame Street produce promotions in its Wise Avenue store on September 24.

“We are excited to take part in this program,” Chris D’Anna, Chairman and CEO of Mars Super Markets says.  “The Sesame Street partnership will be a great way to engage and educate children about good nutrition and making good choices.”

The PMA ‘eat brighter!’ program offers royalty-free access to Sesame Street characters and is supported by grocery retailers and fresh produce companies across the United States and Canada.  To learn more, click here.

PMA