SANTA PAULA, CA - Flu season is upon us and between crowded trade show floors, business meetings, and kids running riot (adults as well), there are still many opportunities to keep the germs at bay!

“Don’t feel like you have to face this battle alone,” John Chamberlain, Vice President of Marketing for Limoneira, shares with me. “Limoneira lemons are loaded with vitamin C and they have many other health benefits as well which retailers can tap to drive sales across produce as well as other fresh departments. Think cross-merchandising and building nutrition in different ways into the menu while also helping with the nasty flu season—two birds, one lemon.”

In addition to its antioxidant qualities, vitamin C plays a crucial role in helping the immune system adapt to new threats and conditions.

“Vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections. In fact, adding vitamin C to the diet both protects and helps heal the body from infections,” John reflects. “In addition, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron from plant-based foods and helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease.”

John adds that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force doesn't support vitamin and mineral supplements to ward off disease. People should get most of their nutrients from food, advises the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“All of this information is reinforced through Limoneira’s Take a Healthy Stand™ educational campaign which takes elements from the 'Food as Medicine' movement taking hold nationwide,” said Megan Roosevelt, a Limoneira nutritionist and Founder of Healthy Grocery Girl®. “Food as Medicine maintains that fresh, healthy produce such as lemons can mitigate against serious health concerns. Furthermore, we know that consumers are quick to turn to the pharmacy or supplement aisle to aide or prevent common ailments, but medical research has shown that real food can be more effective. Many nutrients in food promote health and protect our bodies from disease.”

Eating opportunities that also provide a healthy lifestyle aspect provide a one-two punch for consumers which is an ultimate benefit for retailers and foodservice operations.

“Eating whole, nutritious foods is important because their unique substances work synergistically to create an effect that can’t be replicated by taking a supplement. Although our bodies only need small amounts of vitamins and minerals, they’re vital for our health. However, Western diets—high in processed foods and low in whole foods like fresh produce—are typically deficient in vitamins and minerals. Such deficiencies can substantially increase our risk of disease," John adds.

Globally, emerging markets are experiencing this shift and benefit from understanding food as medicine.

Limoneira notes that three-fourths of U.S. consumers believe healthy foods and beverages can be used to increase the quality of their lives, according to Harvard and The National Institute of Health, Nutrients, and NMI which are also the sources for many of the stat insights in this piece. In addition, more than a quarter of Americans believe functional foods and beverages can be used in place of some medicines.

“We are sharing this information with our customers and their customers. In addition to in-store displays, merchandising, and advertising, Limoneira’s Nature's Pharmacy APP shows shoppers that much of what they need can easily, and inexpensively, be found in the produce aisle,” John shares with me. “The app helps consumers easily identify fruits and vegetables in grocery stores that can help solve healthcare issues they may be wrestling with.”

Limoneira cross-tabulated 57 health concerns including the need to increase good cholesterol, prevent cardiovascular disease or ease insomnia, as well as desired outcomes, including improving energy levels or reducing wrinkles, with 74 fruits and vegetables. All of these foods, which can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores, contain 12 essential vitamins and 11 essential minerals that address these concerns or help with desired outcomes. By selecting a concern or outcome, the app then generates foods in the produce aisle that can help consumers achieve their health goals.

The Nature's Pharmacy™ app can be found on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

For additional lemon recipes, health, lifestyle, and green cleaning tips please checkout Lemonsforlife.com and keep your produces aisles stocked!

Limoneira