WASHINGTON, DC - The Foundation for Fresh Produce has started preparing for the fifth annual National Fruits & Veggies Month (NFVM), taking place throughout September. The month-long celebration has inspired millions of consumers year over year since its inception, and is leaning into a new theme for 2024, Every Time You Eat, Have A Plant®.

“As part of our priority to boost appeal through culturally inclusive content, the new social media tactic targets Gen Z and millennial consumers outside of our own followers, with the goal to break through to new audiences we haven’t reached before,” said Katie Calligaro, Director of Marketing and Communications.

The list of influencers include: Lilie Randazzo, Danny Scott, Carita Fambro, Misty Snyder, and Caitlyn Neier.

This year's theme Every Time You Eat, Have A Plant, is well-positioned to emphasize ways to make it easy to enjoy fruits and vegetables at every meal, and snack time. While shopping, dining out, enjoying a meal with family, at school, or on-the-go, there are so many ways to Have A Plant® for better health and happiness, a press release shared.

New to the campaign this year, the Foundation will engage with a group of lifestyle influencers who will be sharing their own unique hacks for how they get their families to eat and enjoy more fruits and vegetables.

“We encourage everyone to leverage the events on social and traditional media to help fruits and veggies shine brighter and promote your own products and brands. There’s strength in numbers, and together we can boost appeal and drive demand for fruits and vegetables to grow a healthier world,” added Calligaro.

For inspiration on how to get involved, click here.

Keep clicking back to AndNowUKnow for year-round plant and produce love!

PACIFIC NORTHWEST & CALIFORNIA - The Pacific Northwest and California encountered an unexpected twist on Saturday as snow blanketed parts of the regions. A cold weather system from the Gulf of Alaska brought atypical conditions, resulting in road closures and surprising winter-like scenery.

As the unusual weather unfolded, local communities quickly adapted to the sudden change.

According to AP News, the National Weather Service stated that, specifically in California, approximately three inches of snow accumulated along Highway 89 in Lassen Volcanic National Park, leading to its temporary closure. A light dusting covered Mammoth Mountain and parts of the Sierra Nevada, and snow was reported at Tioga Pass for the first time in August since 2003.

The region also experienced significant rainfall, affecting areas from Redding to Red Bluff in California. As AP News added, local authorities issued warnings for slick roads and flash flooding in areas recovering from wildfires.

In Washington, reports stated that Mount Rainier was covered in a blanket of snow at high elevations. We are unsure as to how these conditions impacted fresh produce growers in the area, but will certainly be looking into it.

While it may still be too warm for snowpack to accumulate in the higher elevations, we keep our fingers crossed for continued precipitation as it adds to the natural reservoirs for water in California specifically. As the weather system moved out, forecasters predicted that the summer heat would quickly return.

To stay updated on the PNW and California's ever-changing weather and its impacts, keep an eye on AndNowUKnow.