LOS ALAMITOS, CA – Ready, set, prepare a snack! Key sponsors of the April Southern California luncheon of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council showcased their products in a unique, audience-interactive challenge to create kid-friendly snacks from fresh ingredients. The challenge was held in conjunction with Produce Marketing Association President Cathy Burns’ keynote presentation in which she spoke about the Eat Brighter program, PMA’s partnership with “Sesame Street” to help deliver messages about fresh fruits and vegetables to children.
PMA and the “Sesame Street” Sesame Workshop share a common goal and view the intersection of marketing, fresh produce, and brand trust as a powerful instrument to inspire children ages 2 to 5, and their parents and caregivers, to choose fresh fruits and vegetables.
Each table of 10 comprised a team and was provided a platter of fresh ingredients: baby carrots from Bolthouse Farms, an avocado from the California Avocado Commission, purple snow peas from Frieda’s Specialty Produce, and a tomato from Tasti-Lee Tomatoes. Additionally, seasonings, Greek yogurt, sunflowers seeds, and dried cranberries were provided. The teams were given 15 minutes to put together a fun and creative recipe that would appeal to children. The entries included dishes like “Bugs & Bunny,” “Avocado Monster,” "Oscar's Garbage Can Dip,” and “Lemony Snowman.”
“Healthy snacking is one of the major food trends this year, and it’s one of the many ways to help increase fruits and vegetable consumption,” said Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s. “We are thrilled to be a part of this challenge. After all, who knew playing with your food could be this much fun?”
Jan DeLyser, Vice President Marketing for the California Avocado Commission, said, “Our industry has a significant opportunity to tap into the snacking trend with our fresh and delicious products. The luncheon presented an opportunity to bring this to life.”
FPFC President Carissa Mace added, “With this snack challenge, we wanted to highlight PMA’s collaboration with ‘Sesame Street’ to encourage better, healthier eating habits for kids and parents alike. We are very pleased with the level of participation and attention we received for both the challenge and PMA’s message.”
Learn more about PMA’s initiative: http://pma.com/sesamestreet
Source: Frieda's Inc.