The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) is for the second year organising a promotional campaign for children the US to help fight childhood obesity.
The association will coordinate an educational programme focused both in the classroom and the cafeteria, which encourages children to “Put a Rainbow on Your Plate”.
“For teachers, getting children to embrace healthy eating habits can be fun,” CFFA said in a press release. “This year, CFFA offers a plethora of educational support materials in conjunction with the Produce for Better Health Foundation.”
While last year’s pilot programme targeted children in kindergarten through third grade; this year CFFA has expanded the initiative to include children up to eighth grade in an effort to provide education to help curb childhood obesity.
“For foodservice professionals in school cafeterias, the programme touts the advantage of using Chilean fruits to fill in the seasonal gaps for fresh fruit since Chile’s season is the opposite to that of the US,” CFFA said.
Chilean fruit suppliers are gearing up for a steady 2010/11 season for table grapes, peaches and blueberries, among other products, according CFFA.
Suppliers are cautiously optimistic, following bountiful rainfall which has filled water reservoirs during the Chilean winter.
Although a late frost resulted in a modest decline of early apricots and cherries in some of the early producing areas, Chile’s initial stonefruit shipments are expected to arrive in the US during early December, with peak volume docking from January onwards.
Several additional Chilean fruit categories are expected to see increased exports this year, including kiwifruit, citrus, cherries and pomegranates.
“Working together we can help make this season our most successful and most profitable Chilean fresh fruit season,” said Tom Tjerandsen, CFFA’s North American managing director.
