Health and Wellness Trends Drive Supermarket Change
In a recent issue of The Packer, Pamela Riemenschneider reported that grocery store chain Aldi pledges healthy changes throughout its store. Checkout lanes will be stocked with nuts, trail mix, granola bars and other healthy options instead of chocolate bars and candy. Other healthy changes include partnering with registered dietitians to provide healthy eating tips and recipes, expanding the selection of organic meat and produce, and highlighting nutritional facts on private-label packages.
“The industrywide push for health and wellness has retailers trying to figure out where they want to brand themselves,” the article reports.
In the same issue of The Packer, Tom Karst writes that a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report shows that among the schools studied that shifted their lunch programs to provide healthier options, school meals chosen by students were 29% healthier in nutritional value than previously. Additionally, there was no difference in school lunch participation – this means that the same number of students ate the lunch offerings from the schools instead of bringing their own items.
What do these two articles tell us?
It means that people – youth and adults – will eat healthier if given the option to do so. Many retailers are seeing that customers are demanding healthier options and many schools are noticing that students will choose healthier options when provided the opportunity. This information can be used by Organics Unlimited’s retailers in understanding how to incorporate organic bananas and other fresh produce into advertising, featured displays and more. And distributors may begin to notice shifts in produce orders accordingly.
Consider how to capitalize on health and wellness trends using organic bananas – it will create a win-win for retailers and customers.
Follow Organics Unlimited on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest recipes, retail marketing tips and organic banana facts.
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Organics Unlimited Responds to the FDA Comment Period on the Term ‘Natural’ in Food Labeling
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opened a public comment period on November 12 for those seeking to share their thoughts on the regulation of the word “natural” on food labels. This action came as a result of a series of petitions to the FDA prompted more insight into the term. The Packer states that three petitions asked FDA to define the term “natural” and one asked that the term be prohibited on food labels. Read more
GROW by Organics Unlimited Creates Disaster Relief Fund to Aid Communities
SAN DIEGO (May 27, 2015) – The GROW Fund, a nonprofit program developed by Organics Unlimited in 2005, has opened a special sub-fund earmarked to specifically aid in disaster relief. Administered by the International Community Foundation (ICF), it was created in light of recent natural disasters worldwide.
Beginning on May 11, 2015, a percentage of the funds derived from the purchase of GROW bananas will be directed toward the new disaster relief sub-fund. This allows for GROW to respond quickly if there is a devastating natural event near the communities in Mexico and Ecuador where GROW organic bananas are harvested.
“With so many catastrophic events happening around the world, we felt it was imperative to create a way to help our communities recover if disaster should strike,” said Mayra Velazquez de Leon, president of Organics Unlimited and GROW. “We have a social responsibility to support communities surrounding our banana plantations, as many workers live in areas plagued by storms.”
This special GROW sub-fund can be used in multiple stages of disaster relief, such as immediate response – providing food, water and medical treatment quickly after a catastrophe – or long-term, such as rebuilding schools and homes. In the wake of a disaster, ICF will produce a list of reliable third-party agencies that are able to provide relief as quickly as they reach the affected area; once Organics Unlimited approves a recommended plan, funds can be distributed to the organization(s) almost immediately.
“Our farms tend to be in areas often affected by natural disasters,” said Velazquez de Leon. “By creating a GROW disaster relief sub-fund, we can be as prepared as possible to assist if or when something devastating happens.”
To donate or learn more about GROW, please visit http://donate.icfdn.org/. To purchase GROW bananas, visit organicsunlimited.com.
About Organics Unlimited
Organics Unlimited is a San Diego-based distributor of organic tropical fruit from Mexico and South America, providing its traditional label as well as the GROW label. Its fruits are USDA certified organic for the U.S. and Canada through Organic Certifiers. For more information on Organics Unlimited and GROW, visit OrganicsUnlimited.com, GrowBananas.org, or call 619.710.0658. Check out the latest blog post from Organics Unlimited at: OrganicOdes.com, or find Organics Unlimited on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
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