Fruitive’s Ghent location celebrated yet another milestone on Thursday, July 5 with the presentation of its first ever Live Your Health award. Award recipient and 13News Now meteorologist Crystal Harper received a potted Calamondin tree with a custom plaque designed by local potter, William Kemp. The event was streamed live at noon on Fruitive’s Instagram.
Harper, a longtime Fruitive fan, was diagnosed with cancer in May 2017. At only 25 years old, Harper underwent a series of chemotherapy treatments that often rendered her weak and breathless, but successfully declared her cancer-free in January 2018. She has since adopted a lifestyle that places health at the forefront. She returned to her former running club, North End Run Club, shortly after she defeated cancer and successfully completed her first post-cancer 5K in March 2018. She also emphasizes the significance of mental health and adopting a diet rich in organic ingredients.
“I’m so excited to work with Fruitive and bring awareness to the importance of a whole food plant-based diet. I’ve worked really hard to raise awareness of cancer during my battle, however it’s equally important to learn what we can do to make ourselves healthy before a cancer diagnosis or to get back on track after beating cancer, and a proper diet is a huge part of that,” explains Harper.
Her food philosophy is strikingly similar to that of Fruitive CEO Gregg Rozeboom. Their mirroring approaches to leading a healthy life are what initially sparked Rozeboom’s interest in granting Harper the Live Your Health award.
“We’re proud we can honor Crystal in this way. Her ability to thrive even after going through such an incredibly trying time deserves to be recognized,” says Rozeboom. “We hope through our platform, we’re also able to help raise awareness about cancer and the causes important to those who receive the Live Your Health award for years to come.”
To honor Harper beyond the award, all Fruitive locations in Coastal Virginia and Washington, D.C. will instate a Roasted Red Pepper Panini to their menus throughout the month of July. The panini is a collaboration between Fruitive and Harper made with flax and spelt bread, cashew cheese, spicy aioli, roasted red pepper, zucchini, spinach and a dash of cayenne pepper. A portion of proceeds from each Roasted Red Pepper Panini purchase will benefit local nonprofit GotCUREage.
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Grace Silipigni
Grace Silipigni is an elementary school Spanish immersion teacher based in Virginia Beach and a regular contributor to Coastal Virginia Magazine, covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellness, education and learning, food and drink, happenings and events, travel and getaways and more.
