Jersey Fresh Teams up with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ & Minor League Baseball

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Jersey Fresh teams up with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ & Minor League Baseball

May 23, 2014

The 30-year-old Jersey Fresh fruit and vegetable marketing program, coordinated by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, has teamed up with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and four of New Jersey’s Minor League Baseball teams to address the obesity epidemic in New Jersey by bringing smarter eating choices to America’s favorite pastime.

Last year, Horizon BCBSNJ opened Horizon Healthy Plate concession stands at the home ballparks of the Camden Riversharks, Lakewood BlueClaws, and Trenton Thunder.

This year, the Somerset Patriots and Jersey Fresh have been added to the “healthy plate” effort.

On April 29, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher attended the Patriots game to cut the ribbon for the new Horizon Healthy Plate concession stand.

Fans at every game are now able to find nutritious alternatives to the traditional ballpark fare.

“Adding Jersey Fresh to the Healthy Plate Concession Stand is a Grand Slam for baseball fans,” said Secretary Fisher. “I am pleased that New Jersey farmers could join the team that will be bringing healthy eating alternatives to fans at New Jersey’s great Minor League Baseball venues.”

Horizon BCBSNJ and Jersey Fresh presented the teams with a series of menu options that are heart- healthy and nutritious (low in calories and sodium) without sacrificing taste. The ball clubs, in turn, suggested specific menu items that could be the healthy equivalent of typical ballpark fare. Each item

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is affordably priced and includes caloric and other nutritional information.

When possible, each team will offer a Jersey Fresh-sourced menu item that showcases the best that Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables have to offer.

The Horizon Healthy Plate concession stand has been endorsed by the New Jersey Department of Health and its Shaping NJ program, a public/private partnership for nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention.