Pink Lady Apples Earn 3 Guiding Stars

As it enters its second decade of providing crisp quality and distinctive flavor to apple lovers around the world, the Pink Lady brand apple has earned a coveted three Guiding Stars from the food-rating system.

“Because of the well-known nutritional aspects of apples, we’ve been busy establishing partnerships with a number of groups focused on healthy products,” says Alan Taylor, marketing director of Yakima, Wash.-based Pink Lady America LLC. “Our association with Guiding Stars is beneficial for a number of reasons, but especially because of its rigorous criteria as an objective food rating system.”

What’s more, adds Taylor, “Being rated by Guiding Stars is great news for our 220 Pink Lady Brand Growers. It provides a substantial boost to that part of the Pink Lady program regularly touting the healthful aspects of their apples.”

Designed as a simple, at-a-glance alternative to reading, comparing and decoding nutrition labels for consumers, the Guiding Stars program helps consumers quickly identify more nutritious food choices at the supermarket, public school lunchrooms and college dining halls. The system rates more than 100,000 fresh, packaged and prepared foods based purely on their nutrient density using a scientific algorithm that incorporates current dietary guidelines and recommendations of leading national and international health organizations.

“Apples are nutritious and easy on-the-go snacks that earn three Guiding Stars for being rich in fiber and Vitamin C, and containing virtually no sodium or fat,” said John Eldredge, director of brand and business development for Guiding Stars.

Pink Lady growers produce more than four million boxes of apples per year, mostly in Washington State.

The Guiding Stars program is now available in 1,700 supermarkets in North America, as well as numerous in public schools, colleges, hospitals and corporate cafeterias.

The Guiding Stars nutrition guidance program is currently found in more than 1,700 supermarkets, including Food Lion, Hannaford, Sweetbay, Homeland, Kings Super Markets and Marsh Supermarkets. Guiding Stars has also expanded into public schools, colleges and hospitals, as well as via a mobile app.