A new study by The Foundation for Fresh Produce reveals most children are not eating enough fruits and vegetables every day. To boost consumption, the foundation has launched a month-long campaign, “Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits.”
Designed to promote simple and engaging food, cooking and meal prep “hacks,” the effort aims to instill healthy eating habits in children as they return to classrooms.
“Capitalizing on this moment in time for back-to-school is the perfect opportunity to not only boost produce sales, but also help families learn how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into children’s diets,” said Lauren Scott, chief strategy officer at the International Fresh Produce Association and the foundation’s executive director. “This partnership is a win-win for everyone involved.”
The campaign offers a strategic partnership to address a critical consumer need – helping busy families incorporate healthy options into their routines. By participating in the campaign, supermarkets can:
- Increase produce sales: Engaging activities and recipe demonstrations will ignite excitement for fruits and vegetables, leading to increased basket sizes and department loyalty.
- Enhance brand image: Position the supermarket as a champion for healthy families. This fosters brand loyalty and attracts health-conscious shoppers.
- Drive traffic: The campaign’s interactive elements will attract families with young children, boosting overall store traffic and potentially leading to increased sales across departments.
The foundation has partnered with nine retailers for the campaign. For its role, Hy-Vee is launching “Hy-Vee Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits” shopper challenge, encouraging families to choose produce more frequently.
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Another retail partner, Meijer, is offering 100 shoppers a consultation with a registered dietitian through Have a Plant Scholarships, focusing on incorporating fruits and vegetables into lunch boxes and after-school snacks.
Additional campaign elements include cooking demonstrations, virtual classes, in-store displays, social media posts and produce incentive coupons.
The BTS promotion was made possible through a collaboration between the Foundation for Fresh Produce and the California Walnut Board, Egg Nutrition Center and National Pork Board.