Featured image: (from left to right) Jessica Ortega with Gills Onions, Megan Jacobsen with Gills Onions, and Oscar Garcia with Primo Trading Services.
In an exclusive update provided to OnionBusiness.com, Megan Jacobsen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Gills Onions in Oxnard, CA, sheds light on the Clean Eating Challenge, a standout feature at this year’s Viva Fresh Convention and Expo. Megan, a Clean Eating Mentor, shares the details of this transformative initiative that took center stage at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, Texas, from April 11-13, 2024.
Notably, Jessica Ortega, also from Gills Onions, emerged as a two-time participant in this six-month challenge, showcasing her dedication to embracing healthier lifestyle habits served on a Clean Eating Panel this year. Additionally, Megan proudly highlights the participation of Oscar Garcia from Primo Trading Services, who, alongside Megan and Jessica, represented the onion industry with remarkable enthusiasm and success in this year’s challenge.
Now, an insightful article detailing the impact and significance of the Clean Eating Challenge at the Viva Fresh Convention by Megan Jacobsen.
About the Clean Eating Challenge
The Clean Eating Challenge represents the basic idea that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is widely accepted as a tool to improve health. As fruit and vegetable producers, marketers, and industry advocates, we hold the tools to improve millions’ lives. What started as a mission-driven education idea to follow four industry members in 2019 as they embarked on a lifestyle change inspired hundreds of other industry members to take the challenge to “walk the walk, not just talk the talk.” We hope that our industry can do more than champion the consumption of fruits and vegetables but model the very lifestyle behaviors that will be critical to changing the health and wellness of a nation.
The Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge was originally associated with the 2020 Viva Fresh Expo and inspired four participants who each experienced significant weight loss and health improvements. The reveal event concluded with a call to action for industry participants to accept the new Clean Eating Challenge 2.0. New participants were eager to sign up and get ready to eat more fruits and vegetables and make lifelong lifestyle changes.
We’ve recruited participants from throughout the produce industry, and now you can follow their journey to a healthier lifestyle! Participants are not expected to lose any set amount of weight or follow any specific diet or exercise routine. Our program asks participants to adopt a healthier lifestyle, including eating more fruits and vegetables and moving more.
The Texas International Produce Association recognizes that eating more fruits and vegetables can change lives by improving not only how you feel but also having the potential to impact chronic disease. The USDA report on dietary guidelines notes, “Today, about half of all American adults—117 million people—have one or more preventable, chronic diseases, many of which are related to poor quality eating patterns and physical inactivity. Rates of these chronic, diet-related diseases continue to rise, and they come not only with increased health risks but also at high cost. In 2008, the medical costs linked to obesity were estimated to be $147 billion. In 2012, the estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes was $245 billion, including $176 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in decreased productivity.” Source: USDA Dietary Guidelines Report
The Clean Eating Challenge creates Clean Eating Champions! Viva Fresh’s Challenge is our way of taking those first steps into the ‘Eden of Health’ that incorporates fresh produce alongside a healthy lifestyle. Change is possible, and TIPA sees a world where fruits and vegetables are eaten for flavor just as much as for nutrition, and we know that starts with our industry. This is TIPA and Viva Fresh’s “WHY,” and why we are so excited to see the CEC grow yearly. We are creating more Champions to show others the road to the Eden of Health.
Below are photos from the event, essential links, and tools to help you start your journey to Clean Eating. Many thanks to Megan Jacobsen with Gills Onions. Note: Click images to enlarge and scroll.
Blogs
Participants blog/vlog their six-month journey. Click here to hear some of their stories: https://vivacleaneating.com/blog/
Tools For Success
Each participant is assigned two mentors at the beginning of the challenge who help guide and keep them motivated. They are also provided access to a registered dietician!
Produce Industry Podcast
One of the episodes of this podcast featured this year’s participants, and Jessica Ortega from Gills Onions was interviewed. Here is that episode: https://www.theproduceindustrypodcast.com/clean-eating-challenge-2024-at-viva-fresh-ep412/
Ready to start your journey?!
To sign up for the 2024-25 Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge, visit https://form.jotform.com/232496184943971.
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