Stemilt Extending Role with USA Water Polo

Stemilt Growers will extend its role as the Official Fresh Fruit Sponsor of USA Water Polo through September 2012.

The United States is one of the top water polo nations in the world. The Women's National team is currently ranked first in the world, and the Men's National team is ranked fourth.

Stemilt and USA Water Polo have worked together since the fall of 2010 in a partnership that has allowed both organizations to leverage the importance of nutrition and fitness to their respective audiences in a variety of platforms.

In the first year of the partnership, Stemilt integrated members of the USA Men's and Women's National teams into the healthy living section of its website by featuring tips from the athletes, as well as through regular interaction on its social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. For its part, USA Water Polo featured Stemilt in numerous communication pieces, including monthly e-newsletters, event programs, SkipShot magazine, and social media, in order to promote nutrition to its vast and rapidly growing community.

"It's been an exciting first year with USA Water Polo," said Roger Pepperl, Stemilt's marketing director. "The recent release of USDA's MyPlate confirms that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is imperative for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and the athletes of USA Water Polo know that fresh fruits like Stemilt's apples, pears, and cherries are loaded with nutrients that fuel the mind and body. We look forward to continuing to spread the nutrition message through our partnership with USA Water Polo in the coming year."

To start off the second year of their partnership, Stemilt fruit will be on hand as the national teams prepare for their major competition this summer, the FINA World Championships, which are scheduled for July 16-31 in Shanghai, China.

Then in the fall, Stemilt plans to launch its nutrition-focused promotion called Apples: The Original Superfood, which features several water polo athletes on an eye-catching display bin and in-store signage.

Later on in the year, the organizations will shift their focus to the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held in London.