Bakersfield, Calif.-based Country Sweet Produce, a grower-packer-shipper of consumer brand Bako Sweet, will celebrate National Sweet Potato Month and National Heart Month in February with initiatives to promote the tuber’s health benefits and encourage increased consumption.
Retailers can capitalize on the timing of both National Sweet Potato Month and National Heart Month by educating shoppers on the benefits of choosing sweetpotatoes, according to a news release. Bako Sweet said it carries the American Heart Association’s Heart Check Certification on all value-added packaging, communicating directly to consumers the heart-healthy benefits of sweet potatoes.
The company said it also will offer retailers an eye-catching shipper display bin to illustrate the heart-healthy benefits of sweetpotatoes.
“It is really important to us that our partners have a way to engage shoppers throughout the year to showcase the versatility and everyday use of sweetpotatoes,” Susan Noritake, director of sales at Bako Sweet, said in the news release. “We’re kicking off with our heart-healthy themed shippers and will continue to offer display bins for Easter, summer grilling, back to school and holidays.”
Valentine’s Day promotions
The company said it also offers recipes on its website to help consumers incorporate sweetpotatoes into Valentine’s Day treats. Bako Sweet said it will also unveil new recipes on social media throughout February.
Dietician Kristen Carli of Camelback Nutrition and Wellness will also share creative and healthy ways to incorporate sweet potatoes in slow cooker meals on the "Arizona Daily Mix" TV show, according to the release. Food stylist Patty Mastracco with "I Do Food" also shared creative ways to incorporate heart-healthy sweetpotatoes for the Super Bowl on "Great Day Fresno." Also, dietitian Veronica Rouse with "The Heart Dietitian" will speak to AZTV about the heart health benefits of sweet potatoes and why they are important to incorporate into everyday meals, the release said.
“Bako Sweet Potatoes stand out as a heart-healthy powerhouse, boasting a wealth of fiber and potassium that actively contribute to lowering cholesterol levels and maintaining optimal blood pressure,” Rouse said in the release. “Incorporating this messaging in the promotion of sweet potatoes at the retail level serves as an excellent strategy to underscore to shoppers the invaluable benefits of adding sweet potatoes into their daily diet.”