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\\u201cNatureSweet is the brand people really know and trust.\\u201d

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Lori Taylor (13:22-13:31)

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Amit Patel is the Marketing Director at NatureSweet, the company behind those delicious, favorite Cherub, Glory and Cherry tomatoes we all love! Whether you leave them on your counter to snack on all day like Lori, or use their packaging as a colander to wash in, NatureSweet\\u2019s tomatoes are a convenient, versatile way to add healthy nutrients to your whole family\\u2019s diet.

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NatureSweet is a great testament to consumer trust and brand loyalty, especially during a time where the produce section at grocery retailers is fighting private labeling and during a time when we want to learn more and more about where our food is coming from. Amit has a background working for CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies like Pepsi, Cheetos and Rice-a-Roni. The benefit to those companies is \\u201cyou can always make another product\\u201d if something goes wrong, whereas with produce, you\\u2019re reliant on weather and harvesting, which doesn\\u2019t always go as planned. That\\u2019s why it\\u2019s so important for NatureSweet to share their purpose of transforming the lives of agriculture workers in North America with customers, and their commitment to providing continuous, guaranteed, high quality, fresh produce.

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As a part of their mission, NatureSweet has expanded beyond tomatoes and are moving into being a full, single solution for customers looking for greenhouse grown vegetables. They\\u2019re expanding into greenhouse grown cucumbers, mini cucumbers, bell peppers, mini sweet peppers, larger tomatoes and more! As Amit says, \\u201cwe take the same care in delivering quality every single day of the year and having it available all year round for consumers.\\u201d

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\\u201cOur purpose is to transform the lives of agriculture workers in North America.\\u201d Amit Patel (6:55-6:59)

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Another way NatureSweet is dedicated to their purpose is by being one of the first brands to participate in the Equitable Food Initiative, which, if\\xa0 you\\u2019ve listened to some of our previous podcasts, you know is an initiative focused on creating transparency in the produce supply chain. EFI certified companies adhere to the best practices in food safety, ensure their farmworkers are treated fairly, listen to workers\\u2019 issues and create solutions to make processes more efficient, and make sure the supply chain is sustainable.

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One of the first things people start to realize when understanding the farming economy and supply chain is that, no matter what kind of delicious product you have, there\\u2019s a great farming story and heritage behind it. For example, a fourth-generation family farm that\\u2019s sustained incredible economic and environmental setbacks. There\\u2019s a big interest in knowing more about our food, the stories behind what we\\u2019re putting in our bodies, and the people making it all possible.

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Speaking of farmworkers, NatureSweet has started a program called Associates Under the Label which helps share the stories of NatureSweet\\u2019s workers with consumers. Votes are taken internally as to which associate is featured and if you lift up the seal on a NatureSweet tomato package, you\\u2019ll see a spotlight of information with a QR code that takes you to the featured agricultural worker\\u2019s full story. This is another great opportunity for you, the consumer, to connect with the brand you love and for farmworkers to get recognized for all their incredible work.\\xa0

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\\u201cYou want to feel good about picking up a package of produce and not having to worry about looking and making sure everything is perfect and that\\u2019s one thing NatureSweet offers is quality you can trust.\\u201d Amit Patel (31:13-31:31)

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When it comes to enjoying NatureSweet\\u2019s delicious, healthy tomatoes, one thing the company is working on helping you with is taking them on the go! You might wish you had a more convenient way to take these healthy snacks with you, whether it\\u2019s to throw in your bag for lunch, a snack while commuting or even eating at your kids\\u2019 sports tournaments (which we all know can last forever!). NatureSweet has now made this easy and convenient in washed, ready-to-eat, smaller packages that are \\u2013 drumroll please \\u2013 crush-proof! Think of all the unhealthy, \\u201cconvenient\\u201d snacks you can replace now by taking your favorite NatureSweet tomatoes on the go with you.\\xa0

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How to get involved

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!\\xa0
• Reach out to us - we\\u2019d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.\\xa0

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If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we\\u2019d love for you to help us spread the word!

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