FOODWORKS DEBUTS THE GREEN PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRODUCE FOR BETTER HEALTH FOUNDATION TO HELP CONSUMERS EAT MORE FRUITS & VEGETABLES
The new program celebrates chefs and restauranteurs bringing plant-forward menus to the forefront across America.
Chicago-based FOODWORKS, a restaurant incubator that specializes in unique dining solutions throughout the country, has launched GREEN Powered by FOODWORKS in partnership with Produce For Better Health Foundation (PBH), the nonprofit organization powering the Have A Plant® Movement to advance fruit and vegetable consumption in America. GREEN’s launch this September 2022 coincides with National Fruits & Veggies Month (NFVM) – an annual, month-long celebration to inspire greater consumption of fruits and vegetables and elevate consumption as a national priority.
GREEN will highlight chefs across the country who create unique, exciting and flavorful experiences in dining that are both healthy and sustainable by integrating more fruits and vegetables into menu items. The guiding principles for GREEN are based on the Culinary Institute of America’s “Menus of Change” and FOODWORKS mutual commitment to advancing public education and availability around plant-forward options in the American diet. Together, FOODWORKS and PBH will bring the message of plant-forward dining in collaboration with chefs and restaurants through the Have A Plant® Movement platform.
“This is a focus on a balanced and sustainable approach to health through amazing flavor experiences with that emphasis on fruits and vegetables versus a focus on vegan or vegetarian menu offerings,” said John Coker, President of FOODWORKS.
“PBH launched the Have A Plant® Movement to leverage the plant-forward eating trend as a way to help Americans eat and enjoy more fruits and vegetables – the plants that no one is eating enough of – every single day for better health and happiness,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President & CEO of PBH. “FOODWORKS’ partnership with PBH demonstrates their commitment to help keep fruits and vegetables at the forefront of menus and make away-from-home dining experiences more flavorful and enjoyable so that consumers want to choose fruits and veggies at every meal and snack occasion. We are thrilled to work with FOODWORKS’ innovative team and extend the Have A Plant® Movement across America.”
FOODWORKS has created a network of partners across the country to support the plant-forward efforts of GREEN. Both larger and specifically local restaurants have been encouraged by the potential of more exposure, especially in non-traditional environments like corporate dining, colleges and universities, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution. Partners include regional operators like DIG, Protein Kitchen, Sweetgreen and more.
Simultaneously, the major cities in the FOODWORKS portfolio will launch with this all-new,
balanced approach to plant-forward eating experiences in major cities such as New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with more following in late fall/winter of 2022.