About Us

HELP was founded in June 2004 by community leader Basil Mills as a special agriculture-based initiative of the Monterey County Office of Economic Development and Monterey County Business Council with the support of the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation. Today HELP has a twelve member Board of Directors and is lead by Chairwoman Ginna Nucci , Honorary Chair Basil Mills & Executive Director Suzanne du Verrier.
 

Program Status and Goals

Project Head Start:
Fruits and Veggies 101—Healthy Kids

Introducing Kids 3-5 in Monterey County’s 24 Head Start sites to the healthy and FUN world of produce with a delicious, hands-on program that takes kids from “yuck” to “yum” and teaches early healthy eating habits and agriculture appreciation. Teacher training and parent education is included. This third year of the Head Start program is made possible by grants from the Nutrition and Fitness Collaborative, the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and ongoing support from Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare.
 

Simply Fresh TV-Produce Recipes/
Nutrition Information—Healthy Communities

TV cooking showcase promotes nutrition and local brand awareness and is sponsored by regional Ag companies and the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Sixty- second commercials broadcast over 230 times per month on all regional broadcast and cable channels in English and Spanish.

Also, cooking demonstrations and produce samplings in local schools, farmer's markets, parent's meetings, school food service staff, and special events. Recipes are now featured in Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital’s cafeteria with patient meals as well as in the California Coast Parent magazine.