SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – Looking to engage the next generation of shoppers, the Chilean Citrus Committee has partnered with 99 Ranch Market on its Culinary Adventure Program, a program designed to teach children important skills like food preparation and food safety.

“Kids cooking classes are a wonderful opportunity for us to get kids excited about and engaged with our fruit,” said Karen Brux, Managing Director for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA), in a press release. “They develop an appreciation for healthy food and also take away skills that they can build on throughout their lives.”

The association noted that this program is the latest to be supported with Chilean Fruit, noting that the CFFA has sponsored over 100 kids cooking classes at other Southern California retail outlets. During the Chilean Citrus cooking class, chefs in training made a Chilean Mandarin Jelly Roll with an Orange Dipping Sauce and received Chilean fruit activity booklets and a free apron.

As the largest Asian supermarket chain in the United States (46 locations in California, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Oregon, and New Jersey), 99 Ranch Market recently started offering the Tawa Culinary Adventure program in four locations. The company noted that the classes have been an instant hit, with waiting lists for many of them.

“Eating fruits like Chilean Mandarins provides numerous health benefits,” noted a spokesperson for 99 Ranch Market. “We’re happy to be teaching our little chefs how to cook dishes that are not only tasty, but also incredibly healthy.”

CFFA noted that, while overlooked by many marketers, the Asian market is a powerful one. From 2009-2014, the Asian-American population grew 25 percent, the association noted, and U.S. Census projections show the Asian-American population will reach 25.7 million by 2019, with a total buying power reaching $1.1 trillion–or 6.7 percent of total U.S. buying power—by 2020.

The Chilean Citrus season will continue through October, with mandarins the main focus, and, the CFFA added, Chilean mandarin volume shipped to North America through Week 35 exceeded 52,000 tons, an 84 percent increase over same time last year.

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Chilean Fresh Fruit Association