<p>Del Monte Foods is joining Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and First Lady Michelle Obama in an $18 million investment to help increase fresh produce consumption among children. The five-year deal includes investments in marketing and new product innovation that will encourage families and children to enjoy healthful meals and snacks more often. In addition, Del Monte will donate at least 7.5 million pounds of fruit and vegetable products in the next three years to support anti-hunger efforts in the U.S.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><iframe width='100%' height='425' frameborder='0' src='http://www.prnewswire.com/templates/embed.html?title=This%20is%20Test%20Title&image=http%3A%2F%2Forigin-qps.onstreammedia.com%2Forigin%2Fmultivu_archive%2FPRNA%2FENR%2FFX-NY82883-20140313-01_10s.jpg&video=http%3A%2F%2Forigin-qps.onstreammedia.com%2Forigin%2Fmultivu_archive%2FPRNA%2FENR%2FFX-NY82883-20140313-01.mp4&release=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prnewswire.com%2Fnews-releases%2Fdel-monte-foods-joins-forces-with-partnership-for-a-healthier-america-in-the-fight-against-childhood-obesity-250315481.html'></iframe>“Providing access to great tasting, nutritious foods, and making it easy for parents to incorporate them in meals throughout the day are fundamental steps to improving the health of our nation’s children,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “I’m proud that Del Monte Foods will be working with PHA to make its healthiest items even more accessible to American families.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Del Monte will also distribute 150 million coupons over the next three years for reduced pricing (at least 40%) on Del Monte brand products and will encourage families to enjoy healthier, tasty side dishes and meals with improved recipes on product labels, according to a press release. The company’s website will also feature full nutrition information along with 40 new recipes that meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans by July 1, 2016.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “We are honored to join PHA and contribute to the health and well-being of our nation’s children and their families,” said Richard Blossom, Senior Vice President for Del Monte Foods. “We believe that better health and nutrition can be attained by filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal, every day. Through a variety of initiatives we will deliver this message in ways that will engage, educate, and inspire parents and kids to turn these words into action.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.delmonte.com" target="_new"> Del Monte Foods </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://ahealthieramerica.org" target="_new"> Partnership for a Healthier America </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
