During March, Honeybear Brands is urging retailers to encourage shoppers to eat more fiber-rich apples to help reduce risk of certain cancers.
The grower, marketer and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries said colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. and the risk is growing in younger adults, adding that the number of people under age 55 diagnosed with colorectal cancer has nearly doubled since 1995.
The marketer said experts point to low-fiber processed food and high-fat meals as a potential cause of this increase and that a diet high in fiber has been shown to prevent colon cancer. Apples, thanks to their skin, are packed with fiber and phytochemicals — such as flavonoids and polyphenols — that may help fight certain cancers, the company noted.
Honeybear Brands is offering POS promotional materials featuring a blue ribbon to highlight colorectal cancer education effort at retail during March, which is colorectal cancer awareness month. Kristi Harris, marketing director, said Honeybear Brands wants to help consumers make the connection between the blue ribbon, colorectal cancer and gut health.
“We have some assets that tie directly into that message with a blue ribbon that our retail partners can utilize,” Harris told The Packer. “We’re just out there with that message with our influencer campaign and our social media campaign trying to hone in and own that fiber message.”
Harris encourages retailers to work with their own nutritionists and dietitians to highlight gut health in March and the benefits of a fiber-rich diet, including apples.
“Apples are a really easy and affordable way to get that fiber into your system,” Harris said. “Let’s remember apples when you’re messaging around fiber, and let’s make sure that we’re bringing that message of easy fiber to the consumer.”
Honeybear Brands will also work with My Food Gal, a food blogger on a social media campaign to inspire consumers to follow her easy, high-fiber recipe that features the delicious combination of apples, oats and peanut butter.
Harris said retailers can promote varieties such as Pazzaz, which offers a flavorful option with lower Honeycrisp volumes, adding that retailers will also find good pricing on gala and Pink Lady apples this spring.
“You’re going to see a lot good pricing on galas and pink ladies as the industry needs to move those, which is a really affordable choice for healthy fiber,” Harris said.
