PBH Seeds $25K for Supermarket Nutrition

In light of supermarkets' status as the top outlet for fruit and vegetable sales, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is offering $25,000 in total grant funding to support grocery store dietetics as a growing field of employment for nutrition professionals.

Having provided supermarkets with various information, marketing toolkits and other in-store materials for the last two decades, the Hockessin, Del.-based PBH has also prioritized working closely with supermarket dietitians in recent years, given the important role they play in helping to educate consumers on the importance of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables in daily meals and snacks.

The grant funding will be used to encourage enhanced collaboration between supermarkets and university nutrition and dietetic programs with a specific emphasis on training dietetic interns to deliver grocery store tours.  The funding period will begin Aug. 1, 2014, and will end June 30, 2015, to coincide with the collegiate fall and spring semesters.  Grants will be limited to $5,000 per internship program per semester; submission deadlines are July 1, 2014, and Oct. 1, 2014.

“We know there is a strong need for supermarket dietitians and store tour programs pertaining to fruit and vegetables," said Elizabeth Pivonka, PBH's president/CEO. "The grants will not only build quality store training programs, but [also] help connect dietetic interns interested in working as supermarket dietitians upon graduation."

Since 1991, PBH has worked to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. It 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.