Get On Board

Have you ever wondered why certain foods have "boards"? Well, wonder no more! Food boards exist for three primary reasons: to promote a product, to share safety information about a product, or to protect the interests of the growers or farmers who produce a product. Here are just a few of the many active boards representing foods across the country and working with food and beverage consumer packaged goods companies throughout the nation.

The American Egg Board links U.S. egg producers to consumers and works hard to communicate the nutritional and economic value of eggs. If you're an egg lover, take a pledge vowing to eat an “incredible edible egg” everyday.

The National Dairy Council works on behalf of American dairy farmers and provides science-based nutrition information about milk and milk products. Since dairy is an important part of any diet, the NDC encourages everyone to get their three servings of low- or fat-free milk, cheese, and yogurt daily.

The National Peanut Board is a farmer-funded national research, promotion, and education program. Growers across the nation come together to contribute to the research and promotion of American peanuts. If you're allergic to peanuts, know that the National Peanut Board wants to educate everyone about peanut and food allergies through their research and education initiatives.

When it comes to fruit, the National Mango Board's got you covered. This national promotion and research organization wants you to experience the exotic flavor of mangos, the world's most popular fruit. Because mangos are grown in tropical areas throughout the world, consumers can enjoy them year-round. If you're unsure how to pick, store, or slice a mango, their website provides excellent tips.

Staying with fruit, the National Watermelon Promotion Board operates with a single objective: to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research, and educational programs. The Orlando-based non-profit organization was founded in 1989 by watermelon growers and shippers, and since then, has developed marketing programs to boost watermelon sales in supermarkets throughout the U.S. and Canada. They even have their own mascot – J. Slice!

Moving on to vegetables, the United States Potato Board is the nation's potato marketing organization. The Board is positioned as the catalyst for positive change and strives to implement programs that will increase demand for potatoes and runs the Potatoes Goodness Unearthed promotion.

In addition to these organizations, other boards have been the brains behind memorable slogans, jingles, and campaigns. The National Pork Board notified us that pork is the other white meat. The Cattlemen's Beef Board and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association joined forces to create the "beef...it's what's for dinner" crusade. Together, the Milk Processor Education Program and the California Milk Processor Board created the "Got Milk" and milk mustache movements.

Certainly, this is not a comprehensive list of food boards. If you know of others, please leave links and messages to tell me more!