After being one of the first to sign up to PMA’s initiative, ‘Eating by Example’, Valley Fruit & Produce is embracing fresh produce in the work place. Eating by Example is an intra-industry initiative to have produce organizations model the behavior they encourage in the wider community: to consume more produce
Valley is using Eating by Example as the launching pad to provide its employees with better access to the extensive range of produce it sells. “Valley has been providing fresh, delicious and healthy fruit and vegetables to our corner of the globe for almost one hundred years. We’re proud of our history and what we do. Eating by Example has been the perfect impetus for us to formally create programs that make the same benefits more accessible to our colleagues”, says Carrie La Londe – Valley’s CFO.
Valley is moving quickly, adding seasonal fruit to birthday celebrations and team meetings. The company is also piloting an employee shopping program where employees can purchase premium quality produce in broken down quantities at cost.
“The early feedback from our new catering decisions has been great”, says Valley’s COO – Douglas La Londe. “Employees instantly gravitated to the fruit we served, leaving the cupcakes until last. As time passed, we’ve cut back on the cupcake option and offered more fruit selections. Whenever it’s convenient, fruit is definitely proving to be the preferred choice!”
