Pears Get Heart Check Certification

Pears Get Heart Check Certification. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.

I'm a bit of a health nut when it comes to eating. The fresher the better so it was exciting news to hear that Green and Red Anjou pears from USA Pears were certified as heart-healthy by the American Heart Association. Kathy Stephenson is the Marketing Communications Director for Pear Bureau Northwest.

STEPHENSON: It's an exciting opportunity for us and we appreciate the fact that the American Heart Association does have a certification out there for folks like pears and other food products that fit well into a heart healthy diet to be recognized. We love working with the American Heart Association because it is very much a science based organization and the awareness level of the consumer about their healthy heart check is an exciting thing to now show up on our Green and Red Anjou pears.

With the addition of fruits, like pears, to the American diet, consumers are better equipped to meet the recommended Dietary Guidelines from the USDA.

STEPHENSON: We plan on using the heart check on our website, using it into our promotions. We have several retailers right now who are showing the heart healthy logo with the Red and Green Anjou pears at the grocery store so hopefully that helps to encourage people to select more fruits and vegetables and specifically to select the Red and Green Anjou pear and add the heart healthy addition to their diet.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.