In
one of the most memorable early moments of United Fresh 2010, United's
Vice President of Nutrition and Health Dr. Lorelei DiSogra was named
The Packer's Produce Person of the Year. Interestingly, however,
DiSogra was not on hand to receive the award when initially announced.
"In
true form, Lorelei was actually in the staff office working," United
Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel told the crowd assembled for
Tuesday's General Session. "If she had been at the craps table, I'm not
sure what I would have done."
Recognized by The Packer for her leadership on child nutrition and
consumption issues, including the inclusion of vouchers for fruits and
vegetables in the WIC food packages, nationwide expansion of the USDA's
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, and most recently, the
championing of salad bars in schools as an effective means of
increasing consumption, including United's current Salad Bar in Every
School campaign, DiSogra has led the industry to significant victories
throughout her career and for the past five years with United Fresh.
"There are so many that work so hard to bring these programs to
fruition," said DiSogra. "If we all continue to work together, we can
make the goal of increasing children's consumption of fruits and
vegetables a reality."
The award came as DiSogra was preparing to donate a pair of salad
bars to two elementary schools in the Nye County School District in a
ceremony Wednesday. Under DiSogra's leadership, United's Salad Bar in
Every School Campaign, in collaboration with the Vollrath Company and
the Cambro Manufacturing Company, donated the salad bars to J.G.
Johnson Elementary School and Manse Elementary School in Pahrump, NV.
On hand for the event were officials from Nye County School
District, Nevada Department of Education, United Fresh and other
produce industry leaders. The campaign is a philanthropic produce
industry initiative to donate salad bars to schools to aid in
increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption.
Photos from the events can be found here.
