Good Eats with...Movie Seats?

Recently, we've seen veggies pop up in some new territory — hopefully in the hands of a lot more children and teens. Whether you support the idea or it think it's cringe-worthy, no one can deny that putting baby carrots in vending machines and on extreme TV ads makes them more visible to kids who would normally reach for a bag of chips. Well, here's something new debuting in a theater near you: Del Monte is trying out it's idea to sell — gasp! — fruits and veggies at the movies.

According to a Del Monte spokesperson, alongside the stale nachos, overpriced jumbo sodas, and neon yellow popcorn, you'll now find pineapple spears or fruit and veggie packs with dip. Crafty moms have been sneaking these goodies into the movies for years. There's room for healthy debate on the food system in action here (Where is the produce from? How fresh is it? How is it packaged?), but there is no denying that it just got easier for kids to get good food when they are out with friends. And now suddenly, it's becoming cool.

Del Monte is no stranger to convenience marketing.  They launched their fruit and veggie vending in schools and offices nearly a year ago, according to the company, with great success. The machines are attractive and are stocked with everything from bananas to tomatoes to grapes. The produce costs you about the same as the junk food would.

I absolutely support kids (and adults) getting more access to fruits and veggies, and I'm encouraged to see that big business is seeing the public shift to demand more nutritious food. Our choices do, after all, shape the food industry. However, this local-produce-loving foodie stills thinks it's important to honestly assess whether or not we should be buying our produce from a vending machine. Living in a culture absolutely driven by convenience at any cost (hello plastic grocery bags and fast food drive-thrus), veggie vending may prove to be a highly effective way to reach consumers. But once the novelty wears off, let's consider rule one when it comes to healthy produce — fresh and local is best when it comes to both taste and nutrition. It's also best for your local economy and the planet at large.

Photo credit: Kai Hendry via Flickr