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Call for Industry to Participate in 4th Annual Whole Grain Sampling Day

BOSTON, January 7, 2015 – Restaurants, manufacturers, supermarkets, schools and other companies and organizations are invited to participate in Whole Grain Sampling Day, Wednesday, April 1, 2015, a day that puts the focus on whole grains and celebrates those that offer these healthy foods to their customers.  

Organized by Boston-based non-profit Oldways and its Whole Grains Council (WGC), this single-day event inspires restaurants, food companies, supermarkets, cafeterias and even food trucks across the nation to offer a multitude of special promotions and low-cost or no-cost whole grain items. Last year’s celebration prompted millions of Americans to taste a wide range of delicious, healthy whole grains and the momentum continues in 2015.

“Whole Grain Sampling Day provides an excellent opportunity to drive traffic, sales, and media attention for retailers, restaurants, manufacturers and others,” said Cynthia Harriman, Director of Food and Nutrition Strategies for the Whole Grains Council and Oldways. “There’s no fee and almost no rules — just choose a plan of action that matches your marketing goals and help us make this the biggest Whole Grain Sampling Day ever.”

The Whole Grains Council provides a full suite of resources for companies and organizations planning to take part in Whole Grain Sampling Day. All planned partner events and activities are listed on the WGC’s website and highlighted on social media. Event partners can also co-brand the Whole Grains 101/Welcome to Whole Grains brochure, which explains why everyone should enjoy more whole grains – a perfect handout for promotions and events.

Here are just some of the companies and organizations already committed to participating on April 1; more are signing on every day:

  • California State University Los Angeles
  • Chadwick R-1 School District (Chadwick, MO)
  • Compass Group
  • Genghis Grill
  • Google
  • Healthy Dining Finder
  • Hy-Vee Supermarkets
  • Jenkins-White Elementary School (Augusta, GA)
  • King Soopers/City Market
  • National Restaurant Association
  • Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
  • Popcorn Indiana
  • Rubio’s
  • ShopRite
  • University of Florida Family Nutrition Program (select schools)
  • Washington Pediatrics (Washington, NC)
  • WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) — select offices

Studies show that switching to whole grains lowers the risk of many chronic diseases. While benefits are most pronounced for those consuming at least 3 servings daily, some studies show reduced risks from as little as one serving daily – so every whole grain helps. The latest health research presented during Oldways and the Whole Grains Council’s recent Whole Grains: Breaking Barriers Conference supported the importance of whole grain consumption and clarified myths around gluten-free and grain-free diets. Presentations can be viewed here.

The easiest way to identify whole grains, now mandatory in school meals programs and included in dietary guidelines, is to look for the Whole Grain Stamp, which guarantees a product has at least half a serving of whole grains.  

The Whole Grain Stamp now appears on 10,000+ products including an increasing number that are natural, organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and labeled gluten free sold in 42 countries. Whole Grain stamped products now span 23 SPINS categories, with the top five sales category leaders driving $7.7B in dollar volume. 

Everyone is encouraged to join in the whole grain conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #SampleWholeGrains.

Restaurants, supermarkets, manufacturers, schools or other companies and organizations interested in participating should contact Kelly Toups, WGC, at 617-896-4884 or kelly@oldwayspt.org. Learn more and download Sampling Day graphics, Tweets and other resources at: http://wholegrainscouncil.org/get-involved/whole-grain-sampling-day

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Please contact Rachel Greenstein (rachel@oldwayspt.org or 617-896-4888) for more information, including hi-res graphics of the Whole Grain Sampling Day logo or for interviews with WGC and Oldways program managers.

About Oldways and the Whole Grains Council?Oldways is a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization, with mission to guide people to good health through cultural food traditions and lifestyles, using practical and positive programs grounded in science. The Whole Grains Council (WGC), an Oldways program, has been working since 2003 to increase consumption of whole grains for better health, and in 2005 introduced the Whole Grain Stamp, now used on more than 10,000 products in 42 countries. The WGC’s many initiatives help consumers to find whole grain foods and understand their health benefits; help manufacturers and restaurants to create delicious whole grain foods; and help the media to write accurate, compelling stories about whole grains.  You can learn more about both at http://www.oldwayspt.org and http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org.