Hockessin, Del. - The mid-year program business plan results for Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) are quite strong. The Foundation is on track to meet annual goals, if not exceed them, come year-end. Media impressions have already exceeded goal, and the statistics for the Foundation’s consumer website, FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org were above goal through the end of June. Notable mid-year achievements are as follows:

Internet Outreach: The strong growth and consumer reach of FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org continued in 2012. The website had nearly 130,000 monthly web visits, a 20% increase in monthly average visits compared to mid-year 2011. The success is attributed to stronger social media efforts, with the opt-in Emails, Facebook, Google searches, Twitter and site referrals (sites with a link to FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org) as the top 5 referrals to the website, and continued marketing of the website to consumers, health professionals, educators and other private and public groups who help to disseminate information about the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters brand. From a social media standpoint, Twitter followers were at 96% of the 18,000 annual goal, and Facebook fans were at 61% of the 60,000 goal for the year. At the end of June, PBH created a Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Pinterest account to expand our reach to consumers.

Role Models: 41 organizations within the fruit and vegetable industry comprised of retailers, growers, shippers, processors, and suppliers were tracking as Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Champions or Role Models. PBH collects and records the activities and achievements of organizations, supporting PBH and the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters brand, throughout the year and recognizes Champions and Role Models during our annual conference, typically held in early Spring. The 2013 Annual Conference, Consumer Connections, will be held on March 13-15 at the W Hotel in San Francisco.

Media Impressions: Fruits & Veggies—More Matters media impressions, mid-way through 2012, totaled 4.2 billion, generated through PBH PR and social media efforts. This large number is attributed to expanded reach through social media channels, most notably Facebook and Twitter, and a consumer press release focused on male primary shoppers (insights from PBH’s annual consumer research). In Q2, the release generated 1.3 billion impressions. An interview with Nancy Hellmich at USA Today, resulted in an article running in early July. This and other earned media impressions will be included in the quarter-three report.

“I am extremely pleased with the 2012 mid-year results and the individual and collective efforts of our donors, supporters and PBH staff,” says Elizabeth Pivonka, president and CEO of PBH, the nonprofit entity in partnership with CDC behind the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® national public health initiative. “We will continue to focus on meeting/exceeding our annual goals, and extending the reach of Fruits & Veggies—More Matters to consumers through the Internet and social media, as well as other program and funding initiatives for the remainder of 2012.”

PBH’s business plan results can be found on the PBH Foundation website.

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About Produce for Better Health Foundation Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) fruit and vegetable education foundation. Since 1991, PBH works to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. PBH achieves success through industry and government collaboration, first with the 5 A Day program and now with the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters public health initiative. Fruits & Veggies—More Matters is the nation’s largest public-private, fruit and vegetable nutrition education initiative with Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators in each state, territory and the military. To learn more, visit www.PBHFoundation.org and www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org. Follow Fruits & Veggies—More Matters on Facebook or Twitter.

PBH is also a member and co-chair with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA), consisting of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry working to collaboratively and synergistically achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health. To learn more, visit www.NFVA.org.