The USApple Association, its members and industry supporters are once again partnering to engage with consumers on social media each day during February’s American Heart Month to spotlight apples’ essential role in heart health. The association’s award-winning “28 Days of Apples” initiative returns for 2015 after successfully engaging with more than 15 million consumers last year by highlighting 28 ways and reasons apples are healthy for our hearts and bodies.

In August, USApple’s “28 Days of Apples’ initiative won top Social Media Campaign at the American Agricultural Editors’ Association Communications Awards. In December, it won best Producer-Funded Consumer PR Campaign in regional Best of NAMA Awards. 

With the support of nearly 20 members and supporting brands and organizations, this year’s campaign will feature the following:

• Digital and social outreach on USApple’s Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages educating consumers about important heart-healthy apple info each day in February. Daily topics include data from major healthy studies, cooking tips and recipes — with facts shared through artfully designed infographics and illustrations.
• A daily, apple-related prize from a USApple member or supporter awarded to a consumer who engages with an apple heart-health fact on USApple’s social channels. Prizes include fruit gift baskets, apple products, cookbooks, cookware and more.
• A Feb. 12 Twitter Party featuring USApple and retail dietitian/nutritionist “Alyson-Approved” sharing apple facts, health research and recipes, and encouraging participants to share their own apple tips.
• Consumer media relations outreach to promote the program and further educate individuals about apples’ heart health.

“With American Heart Month, February becomes an important health moment and national platform for our industry to remind consumers about the proven ways daily apple consumption supports lowering bad cholesterol, contributes to improved circulation and leads to trimmer waistlines,” Wendy Brannen, director of consumer health and public relations for USApple, said in a press release.

“’28 Days of Apples’ is customized for engaging with individuals in the exact way they now consume their news — on the go, in small visual bites and on social channels," she said. "We are very grateful to our members and supporters for joining in this initiative by providing daily prizes to consumers who engage with or share our health information. It’s what truly makes the program so original and such a success.”

Participating sponsors and donors of daily prizes include Borton Fruit, Chelan Fresh Marketing, Crunch Pak, Envy Apples, Hass Avocado Board, Knouse Foods, Michigan Apple Committee, New York Apple Association, New York Apple Sales, Opal Apples, Pennsylvania Apples, Pink Lady America, Rainier Fruit, Red Jacket Orchards, Robin Asbell, Sage Fruit, The Produce Mom and Tree Top.