"Jim will provide our WPPC attendees a unique perspective of how politics, campaigns and the media intersect our nation and why these three pillars will influence one of the most eagerly-anticipated elections in 2012," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for United Fresh. The Washington Public Policy Conference draws more than 500 produce industry leaders from across the country annually to Washington, where they will meet with congressional leaders and administration officials.

Vanity Fair recently named VandeHei among the 100 most powerful "Information Age" thinkers for helping create "the model for the new media success story". Washingtonian Magazine named him one of the 100 people to watch in the new millennium, and VandeHei along with co-founder John Harris were named the fifth most influential U.S. pundits by the London Telegraph. In addition, VandeHei co-moderated two presidential debates in 2008 including the first debate to incorporate questions voted on by a live online audience. POLITICO, established in 2006, includes the largest White House and congressional news team in the country and is known for its on-the-edge reporting of Capitol Hill, the administration, and Washington. It provides traditional media values of fairness and accuracy with the speed and immediacy of new technologies.

"VandeHei is better positioned than anyone else to pull back the curtain on Washington and address what is really happening inside the White House and on Capitol Hill," said Guenther. "We are excited to have someone with Jim’s 15-year experience speak before our industry leaders."

VandeHei’s Wednesday address adds to a robust schedule at this year’s Washington Public Policy Conference that includes Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), discussions with federal regulators at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration, market segment-specific education sessions and the popular Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill. Additionally, this year’s schedule includes the most visits to congressional offices by conference attendees in the event’s history. More information on the Washington Public Policy Conference is available at www.unitedfresh.org/programs/wppc.