Chile's fruit industry gave runners an extra energy boost with a 2o metric tons (MT) donation of fruit at last weekend's Santiago Marathon.

Participants gobbled 9MT of grapes, 6MT of bananas and 5MT of apples as part of Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Chile's, 'I'd eat fruit' campaign, which kicked off with the Ironman  Triathlon 70.3.

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The iniative was supported by  the PMA Chilean Country Council, Dole, Subsole, David del Curto, supermarket retailer Jumbo, porta and fullrunners.

Chilean Country Council PMA president Miguel Allamand, said the campaign was part of the organization's interest in promoting healthy living.

"Fruit is an important part of sporting activities in Chile and the school life of every child in the country. As Chile is one of the most prominent fruit producers in the world, we have a growing concern that fruit is available to everyone in the country."

About 27,000 people lined the streets outside the La Moneda Government palace to watch the event comprising three races of 10 , 21 and 42 kilometers.

Related stories: Fruit consumption programme launched in Chilean schools

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