11/15/05 McDonalds, Better Health, and the Hort

The morning program for Tuesday December 6th of the 101st Washington State Horticultural Association Convention in Wenatchee is centered on the theme of "Boosting Apple Consumption  Improving Returns". And as program co-coordinator Nick Stephens points out, one of most noticeable boosts to apple promotion and consumption in recent years will be represented as one of the featured speakers. That would be McDonalds, with first its apple dippers and then its more recent fruit salad. STEPHENS: I think growers are really excited about the opportunity to move more of their crop, and moving it into such a high profile outlet as McDonalds really is a boost for the industry. Mitch Smith from McDonalds will be coming in and discussing the role that apples have to play in McDonalds' future. Also on board Tuesday morning is Elizabeth Pivonka of the Produce for Better Health Foundation as she discusses how apples could lead the way to increased healthier eating. STEPHENS: Improving apple consumption is really an important message and how is that message being put across to the consumer. And Elizabeth will elaborate on how her organization is promotion apples as a health food item. Seminars are also scheduled on providing consumers with the quality apples they want, and a roundtable discussion with Smith, Pivonka, and other apple industry leaders on ways to improve marketing.