The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) organized the 'I'd eat fruit campaign' for Sunday's Santiago Marathon in Chile, promoting healthy eating to the event's 40,000 runners.

The campaign provided 20 metric tons (MT) of fruit to participants, with support from fruit businesses Dole, Subsole and David Del Curto, along with efforts from packaging company Envases Impresos which sponsored and coordinated the event.

Click here to view more photos from the marathon.

PMA Chilean Country Council president Miguel Allamand highlighted the special effort made by supporting companies, with hopes that more fruit industry businesses will take part in next year's marathon.

"It's impressive to see the reach that this event has - people of all ages come together to exercise, live a healthy life, and fresh fruit plays a key role for that," he said.

Envases Impresos general manager Joaquín Matte was also impressed with the campaign, having run 21km (13mi) himself in the marathon.

"It fills us with pride and satisfaction to participate in these types of initiatives that incentivize fruit consumptions and therefore the development of our business. As an athlete it is rewarding to help promote healthy living and sport," he said.

PMA representative in Chile and Peru, Gustavo Yentzen, said the "voluntary and selfless work of the companies that support this initiative speaks of the commitment our industry has for the consumer and healthy living activities".

One unfortunate aspect of the event was the low quantity of bananas due to the impacts of port strikes.

www.freshfruitportal.com