August 17 is National Pineapple Juice Day and an exciting time to celebrate the natural citrusy sweet taste of pineapple juice! Join us as we raise our glass to this tropical juice full of flavorful facts deserving of a celebration.
Pineapple juice is a tropical drink that delivers a refreshing boost of hydration and Vitamin C. With its beautiful bright flavors, one sip of pineapple juice instantly transports your taste buds to the tropics. Today, we join millions of people across the globe to hold a celebration and start their day differently on National Pineapple Juice Day.
Native to South America, pineapple arrived in Hawaii courtesy of the Spanish sometime in the 18th century. However, the truly juicy story of pineapple juice unfolds there with a man named James Dole playing a pivotal role.
In 1899, James Dole moved to Hawaii with $1,000, a Harvard degree in business and horticulture, and a love of farming. Dole began growing pineapples on his newly purchased 60-acre pineapple plantation and quickly realized he had a sweet opportunity to provide the juiciest pineapples to the world.
After his first harvest, Dole started shipping pineapples to people on the mainland in the United States. However, there seemed to be an issue of keeping the freshness of the pineapples. Dole wanted to make the sunshine and taste of Hawaiian pineapples available for everyone. As a result he developed a canning technique to preserve the delicious taste of the pineapple fruit and juice.
“On this National Pineapple Juice Day, we are thrilled to celebrate the unique and tantalizing pineapple juice that consumers have been loving for many years. Serving a revitalizing change of pace for consumers, Dole® 100% Pineapple Juice is a naturally sweet, refreshing choice for juice drinkers without needing added sugar. Plus, it’s packed with Vitamin C and other essential vitamins and minerals. So, over 90 years since Dole first put pineapple juice in cans, raise a glass of sunshine and cheers to the naturally delicious taste of pineapple juice!”
In 2023, Dole Packaged Foods, LLC and National Day Calendar began a collaboration to create National Pineapple Juice Day. During the entire month of May, Dole called for all pineapple juice lovers to sign a petition and take the charge to make National Pineapple Juice Day official. To sweeten the deal, Dole made a donation for each signature to Feeding America® (up to $5,000) to support programs to end hunger as part of the Dole Promise. National Calendar Day unanimously approved Dole Packaged Foods, LLC’s request to establish National Pineapple Juice Day to be celebrated annually on August 17.
About the Founder
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, is a world leader in distributing, growing, marketing fruit and healthy snacks and sourcing in four core categories:
Beverage
Snacks
Frozen
Pantry
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC also sells a full line of packaged shelf stable fruit, frozen fruit, dried fruit and juices focusing on supporting four pillars of sustainability:
Water management
Carbon footprint
Soil conservation
Waste reduction
Visit dolesunshine.com to learn more information about Dole and their products.
Perfectly Pineapple
Pineapple juice is a versatile ingredient in the culinary world. With plenty of ways to use it, pineapple juice adds sweetness, slight acidity and a savory balance to any recipe.
Sipped Solo – As an excellent source of Vitamin C, pineapple juice is a great choice for a morning beverage.
Marinade – Pineapple juice is great for tenderizing poultry, especially on chicken and pork. In fact, it also creates a delicious glaze for grilled food, too.
Vinaigrette – Pineapple juice mixed with honey, olive oil, and lime or lemon juice adds delicious elements to any vinaigrette salad dressing.
Baking – Substituting pineapple juice for water adds moisture and an additional touch of sweetness to cake and quick breads. You can also use pineapple juice to add a touch of the tropics to frostings.
Cocktails – Pineapple juice also adds a fresh, citrus, and sweet flavor to several tropical-flavored cocktails, including Piña Coladas and blended pineapple margaritas.
National Pineapple Juice Day brings about many ways to celebrate. From learning about the history to savor the early beginnings to implementing it into your daily diet, pineapple juice deserves a time to shine. Show us how you celebrate National Pineapple Juice Day by sharing your photos or pineapple juice recipes on social media using #NationalPineappleJuiceDay and #NationalPJDay.
Every year in May, Global Employee Health and Fitness Month aims to improve the health of the global workforce. Through initiatives and helpful programs, the campaign encourages employers to engage their employees in healthful activities. It also provides a variety of wellness and fitness programs to complement already existing programs. Employers with wellness programs have healthier employees who are more productive. Wellness programs reduce overall healthcare costs and reduce illness and injury.
Employees who participate in wellness programs have lower stress levels, better overall health, and improved confidence, too. Challenge employees to pair up with partners to take the stairs or go for a walk on their lunch break. Take stretch breaks and eat healthy meals. Make sure to get plenty of rest and track your exercise, too. Join the movement and encourage others to join you.
GLOBAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND FITNESS MONTH
The National Association for Health and Fitness launched the observance in 1989 to encourage employers to invest in their employees’ health. Each year the campaign has grown from a national observance to a now global event.
Employers can participate by offering wellness programs and incentives to employees who participate. Create challenges and opportunities to encourage employees to be physically active and focus on their health. Employees, encourage your employer to join the movement. Other ways to participate include:
Invite other co-workers to join you for a walk on your lunch break
Choose the farthest parking space or walk to work
Take the stairs
Use a standing desk
Participate in desk exercises
Use #EmployeeHealthAndFitnessMonth to share on social media.
National Sunkist® Citrus Day on March 1 honors the rich history of California citrus, recognizes the legacy of multi-generational, family-owned Sunkist citrus farms, and celebrates the many health and wellness benefits that Sunkist citrus provides.
The Sunkist cooperative has a rich history of values and a legacy of multi-generational, family-owned citrus farms, and is delighted to celebrate its 130th anniversary this year.
Since 1893, Sunkist has been doing what they do best: growing citrus. What started as citrus growers in the late 1800s joining forces to collaborate and combine efforts, has evolved into more than 1,500 citrus grower members stretching across California and Arizona today. This is why Sunkist’s motto is “Stronger Together.”
Seed By Seed
The first Navel orange tree in California was planted in the 1800s and became the very first citrus variety in the Sunkist portfolio. Today, Sunkist offers a robust portfolio of nearly 40 fresh, premium citrus varieties, including:
Oranges
Lemons
Mandarins
Grapefruit
Tangerines
Tangelos
Do oranges have different flavors? Yes. Each citrus variety has its own unique flavor profile. Sunkist Navel oranges are one of the most popular varieties and offer the perfect balance of sweet and juicy. Sunkist Cara Cara oranges, also known as The Pinkie™ Orange, is sweet, seedless, and uniquely pink on the inside due to the natural presence of lycopene. Cara Cara oranges offer 100% of your daily vitamin C intake in just one orange. These oranges provide folate, fiber, potassium, and vitamin A in every bite.
A Growing Legacy
What do citrus farmers do? What do citrus farmers do? Sunkist citrus growers take pride in growing and nurturing high-quality citrus for consumers around the world using traditional growing practices, stewardship of natural resources, and a dedication to innovation.
Growing fresh citrus requires hard work, dedication, resilience, skill and innovation. It can take five years for one tree to make the citrus that arrives in stores. Once the fruit is ripe, Sunkist growers hand-pick the fruit, and once at the packinghouse, they are sorted, washed and packed before making their way to the store. Year after year, crop after crop, citrus growers share a commitment to providing fresh quality citrus consumers enjoy worldwide.
Sunkist citrus growers take pride in growing and nurturing high-quality citrus for consumers around the world using traditional growing practices, stewardship of natural resources, and a dedication to innovation. Year after year, crop after crop, citrus growers share a commitment to providing fresh quality citrus consumers enjoy worldwide.
CITRUS CELEBRATION
Learn about the different varieties of citrus.
Head to your local grocery store and purchase a variety of citrus products and have a tasting party with friends.
Learn a new recipe using citrus ingredients. Recipe inspiration can always be found on Sunkist.com/recipes.
Share your favorite citrus recipe or wellness hack and give Sunkist a shout-out on social media using #NationalSunkistCitrusDay.
February 26th recognizes all things pistachio and National Pistachio Day is the day to celebrate! Pistachio lovers rejoice as they eat their favorite nut all day long. For those who do not eat pistachios, buy some and give them to someone who does. Crack them open and eat them up or enjoy them in ice cream or your favorite pistachio dessert!
Pistachios arrived in the United States sometime in the 1880s, but they have been cultivated in the Middle East since Biblical times.
The pistachio tree grows to about 20 feet tall needing little or no rain and must have high heat. Amazingly, in Iran, they claim to have 700-year-old pistachio trees! A new tree takes between 7 and 10 years to mature and bear fruit.
Pistachio Facts:
All pistachio shells are naturally beige in color. Some companies dye nuts red or green if nuts are inferior or for consumer demand.
California produces about 300 million pounds of pistachios each year, accounting for 98 percent of America’s production.
Pistachio shells typically split naturally when ripe.
The kernels are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and either salted or unsalted.
In the Middle East, people call the pistachio the smiling nut.
In China, people call the pistachio the happy nut.
Health Benefits
“Pistachios are an excellent source of vitamin B6, copper and manganese and a good source of protein, fiber, thiamine and phosphorus. Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces (42.5g) per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.” US Food and Drug Administration, July 2003.
A Great Thing To Do — Recycle the Pistachio Shells!
The empty pistachio shells are useful for recycling in several ways. If unsalted, the shells need not be washed and dried before reuse, but washing is simple if that is not the case. Practical uses include as a fire starter; kindling to be used with crumpled paper; to line the bottom of pots containing houseplants for drainage and retention of soil for up to two years; as a mulch for shrubs and plants that require acid soils, as a medium for orchids; and as an addition to a compost pile designed for wood items that take longer to decompose than leafy materials (it can take up to a year for pistachio shells to decompose unless soil is added to the mix).
Shells from salted pistachios can also be placed around the base of plants to deter slugs and snails. Many craft uses for the shells include holiday tree ornaments, jewelry, mosaics and rattles. Research indicates that pistachio shells may be helpful in cleaning up pollution created by mercury emissions.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPistachioDay
Eat some pistachios! Eat a bunch of pistachios. How else can you celebrate?
Start the day with a pistachio biscotti. It will be the perfect addition to your morning coffee.
Do you know someone who loves pistachios? Pick them up a bagful or stop by the baker and buy a pistachio treat.
Add pistachios to a salad or soup. They’ll add a nice crunch and amazing flavor, too.
Crushed pistachios create a delicious crust on fish and other proteins. Look for recipes for pork and chicken, too.
Add pistachios to your baked goods. Like other nuts, pistachios add a crunchy texture but they also bring their own flavor to the mix.
Don’t forget your oatmeal and yogurt. Pistachios will make your healthy snack or breakfast even better.
Use #NationalPistachioDay to post on social media.
The holidays may be over, but the New Year celebration and commitments to our resolutions continue with National Green Juice Day on January 26th. Every year, the celebration encourages people to stick to their health and wellness resolutions by drinking a green juice.
There are several veggie-centric ways to celebrate and inspire health and wellness habits in the New Year.
After finding that more than 50 percent of Americans break their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January*, Evolution Fresh founded National Green Juice Day in 2016 as a way to empower people to press ahead with their wellness resolutions by drinking a green juice.
*Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Evolution Fresh among 1,001 American adults age 18+ using an email invitation and online survey in December 2015.
