The back-to-school season is a time when students reboot their brains and prepare for another year of learning and achievement. Our minds could not accomplish all they do without the nutritious fuel we fill our bodies with, and the fresh produce sector offers a wide array of brain-powering fruit and vegetables. Here to tell you about the fresh benefits are a handful of industry experts…
“As back-to-school season ramps up, shoppers are seeking quick and healthy snack solutions for lunchboxes, afterschool bites, snack time, and more! Our fresh-cut celery sticks offer crisp, convenient, nutritious options thanks to our proprietary Duda Generations varieties—the crispiest, sweetest celery available. Cross-promotion at the retail level can further boost this refreshing snack’s popularity when paired with single-serve dips like hummus, ranch, or almond butter, creating easy grab-and-go pairings that are perfect for lunchtime, work breaks, or on-the-go snacking.”
“The back-to-school season is timed with the transition to new crop apples and pears at Stemilt. With a full crop of pears returning, we encourage retailers to utilize our popular kid-sized fruit brand, Lil Snappers®, to highlight the convenience and snackability of new crop Bartlett and Starkrimson pears. Pair that pouch bag promotion with bulk Rave® apples to create a well-rounded ad that hits on seasonality and flavor, while driving dollars to two key categories come fall.”
“Late summer usually finds produce buyers scrambling for color after stonefruit peaks. Enter the Keitt mango—Mexico’s giant, green-skinned cultivar that ripens just as backpacks come out of storage. Freska’s Los Mochis groves sit along the fertile Sinaloan coastal plain, where warm days and cool Pacific breezes stretch the growing window and let Keitts size up impressively without sacrificing texture. The result is a mango that can weigh nearly a pound, with almost zero fiber and a custardy bite that wins over kids and diet-minded parents alike.”
“The back-to-school season brings excitement, and we aim to channel that energy and joy into healthy snacking with our SUNSET® teeny-tiny tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Sprinkles™ Tomatoes, Qukes™ Cucumbers, and Peppy’s™ Peppers are easy to fit into lunchboxes and perfect for little hands to snack on. The growing demand for this line reflects the consumer desire for fun, flavorful fruits and vegetables in the snacking category. The ‘cute’ factor drives impulse purchases that evolve into loyal favorites, thanks to their outstanding taste. We’re excited for kids and adults alike to enjoy these fun snacking offerings this back-to-school season.”
“We hear from parents all the time about the challenge of balancing fresh and convenient snacks—but with Naturipe Farms, they don’t have to choose. This back-to-school season, we’re highlighting our snack packs made with fresh berries, a differentiator we are proud of. Fresh fruits are lower in sugar, more hydrating, and packed with essential vitamins. As an added bonus, pairing fresh fruit with other kid-friendly snacks—like pretzels, cheese, cookies, or even mini pancakes—is a great way to get even the pickiest of eaters to enjoy berries. Give them a try and taste the difference for yourself!”
“For every new school year, Dole wants to make fresh fruit the easy, nutritious, and fun choice for every student’s routine. Throughout our social media channels, we share creative recipes, lunchbox tips, and parent-friendly hacks for convenient ways to fuel young minds with wholesome produce. Our back-to-school campaign will highlight bananas, pineapples, mangos, and other fruits as smart, packable options that support energy, focus, and wellness throughout the day. We see a return to school as an opportunity to also instruct on how to build better food habits—one snack, one lunchbox, and one student at a time.” 
