United Fresh Chairman of the Board and River Point Farms CEO Steffanie Smith, along with United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel, will meet in Washington next Tuesday with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to discuss produce industry concerns regarding environmental issues such as safe pesticide use, endangered species regulation and climate change.

In the wake of recent media reports raising hypothetical fears about pesticides and fruits and vegetables, United Fresh has urged the USDA and EPA to correct misleading information in the media more forcefully and quickly based on their own independent scientific reviews.

"As both a grower-shipper and chairman of United Fresh, I'm pleased that these top officials are willing to meet with us to listen to our concerns," Smith said.

The meeting will include a small number of specialty crop organizations and producers to talk personally about challenges they face with environmental issues and regulation, as well as share recommendations with EPA and USDA.