United Fresh Applauds Prominent Role of Produce in Sen. Boxer’s School Nutrition Bill

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For Immediate Release, March 19, 2010, 4:15 p.m. EDT; Contact: Patrick Delaney – pdelaney@unitedfresh.org, 202-303-3400 ext. 417

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel has released the following statement on Thursday’s introduction of S. 3144, the Healthy Food in Schools Act of 2010, by Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.:

“United Fresh is pleased to see Sen. Boxer’s bill reflect many of our own priorities for the Child Nutrition Reauthorization. Especially exciting is the bill’s prominent recognition of school salad bars as an effective strategy for increasing children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables.

“United Fresh has worked for more than a decade to advance federal nutrition policies that increase access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Sen. Boxer’s bill will help our efforts to ensure school meals provide a wide variety of healthy fruits and vegetables that help children develop healthy eating habits for a lifetime. We sincerely appreciate the leadership of Sen. Boxer and bill co-sponsor Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C.

“Additionally, United appreciates the leadership of Reps. Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Adam Putnam, R-Fla., who introduced H.R. 4333, the Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Act in the House in December 2009. The Healthy Food in Schools Act is the companion bill to H.R. 4333, which has 57 co-sponsors. Together, these two measures provide a framework for meaningful nutrition policy that can improve the lives of millions of American children.

“Perhaps at no other time has the opportunity been greater to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for our nation’s school children. United Fresh is fervently committed to working with the Obama Administration and Congress to significantly improve consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to foster healthier lifestyles for American children.”

Editor’s note: United’s Salad Bar in Every School campaign, launched in February 2010, is a multi-year public health commitment from the fresh produce industry designed to help shape students’ dietary habits far beyond the school lunch line. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org.