CINCINNATI, OH - A dynamic new partnership has formed, bringing together influential names from across the retail, fresh produce, and food industries to promote nutrient-rich foods to shoppers as they continue to search for better-for-you offerings. Kroger Health, Naturipe Farms, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), and the American Egg Board have come together to introduce PBH’s new Powerful Produce Pairings program featuring omnichannel retail promotions this fall.

“Our philosophy is to bring our shoppers science-based, real-life, simple ways to enjoy delicious food that helps them feel great,” said Bridget Wojciak, Director of Nutrition, Kroger Health. “We believe nutrition for better health does not mean dreading what’s on your plate, and so we’re thrilled to show how great memories can be shared over meals featuring produce.”

With Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommending 2.5 cups of veggies and 2 cups of fruit each day for children ranging from 2–8 years old, 90 percent of Americans are not eating enough fresh produce, according to a press release. Looking to help solve this problem, PBH is launching its Powerful Produce Pairings to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables more frequently by pairing them with other nutrient-dense foods, like eggs.

By combining berries, such as blueberries from Naturipe Farms, with eggs, as promoted by the American Egg Board’s Egg Nutrition Center, children and adults alike will be provided with a powerful combination of foods that support brain, immune, bone, and eye health.

“This fall, kids are heading back to school, which often means ‘back to busy’ for many parents. To ensure the return isn’t overshadowed by worry, parents can proactively take key steps to ensure the safety and health of their children by tapping into the emotional connection kids can have with produce,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and Chief Executive Officer of PBH. “Plant foods, like fruits and vegetables, provide important nutrients that help kids do their best in the classroom, whether it’s helping to support their immune system or giving them the needed energy for all their favorite activities. PBH encourages families to have a plan and Have A Plant® this fall with this berry eggcellent promotion!"

The promotion is being brought to life through Kroger Health, the healthcare arm of The Kroger Co. The retail healthcare organization has over 2,300 pharmacies, 11 specialty pharmacies, and 200 clinic nationwide. It also has a team of 22,000 healthcare professionals that serve over 13 million customers.

Kroger Health’s registered dietitians are an integral part of this promotion, which includes:

• PBH Have A Plant® Cook Along on PBH’s Facebook Channel @FruitsandVeggies, Wednesday, August 11th at 5:30 p.m. ET. Join Kroger’s Ashley Martinez, MFN, RD, LD for a lesson in batch cooking to help followers prep kids’ lunches using creative recipes from both Egg Nutrition Center and Naturipe Farms
• A PBH Have A Plant® for Back-To-School Nutrition Booklet distributed to more than 60,000 Kroger and Little Clinic customers, showcasing like eggs and blueberries to support cognition, tips on building DIY lunch packing stations and batch cooking for back to school
• An opportunity for all partners to present to Kroger’s team of dietitians in a small group setting, offering them new nutrition information and the science behind the benefits of berries and eggs for cognitive health—all culminating at a time when these benefits will be top of mind as kids head back to school in the fall
• Social media promotions throughout the month of August that will provide tips and tricks to shoppers and PBH followers on how to ensure school lunches offer the good nutrition parents demand and delicious food that kids will request over and over in their lunches

How will this pivotal new partnership continue to evolve to include more fresh produce names? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we bring you the deets.

Kroger Naturipe Farms
Produce for Better Health Foundation