"This approach is one that serves our members and attendees very well, allowing each to tailor an educational experience to their specific business type," said United Fresh Senior Vice President of Public Policy Robert Guenther. "Couple these market-specific breakout sessions with insight from top lawmakers like Wednesday keynote speaker House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas, and unprecedented, face-to-face access on Capitol Hill, and at USDA, EPA and FDA, and you have an event at which produce companies can really make a difference, not only for the industry as a whole, but for their individual businesses."

For grower-shippers, the Could E-Verify Devastate Your Workforce and Destroy Your Business? session offers a chance to explore the potential impact of business-threatening legislation moving through Congress and the repercussions of recent Supreme Court rulings on E-Verify. Attendees will also learn what they can do to help bring a sensible solution to the workforce needs of the produce industry.

The fresh-cut processor offerings focus on issues in food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) in Fresh-cut Operations Inspections: FDA and Private Sector Perspectives. In the session, attendees will hear from the FDA's Office of Enforcement on the top 10 food safety and GMP issues in fresh-cut processor operations. Additionally, the session will address the Global Food Safety Initiative and how it affects the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative.

Efficiency in the supply chain is on tap for the wholesaler-distributor segment during How Produce Distributors and USDA Can Work Together to Maximize Efficiency in the Produce Supply Chain. The session includes a comprehensive discussion on how the produce industry can work with USDA at this critical step in the supply chain to ensure programs such as small farm GAP certification and border inspection are handled effectively for the industry.

In How Retailers and Restaurants Can Use New Policy Initiatives to Increase Sales, retail and foodservice operators will address the new MyPlate initiative from USDA and the Dietary Guidelines recommendation to "make half your plate fruits and vegetables." The session explores how retailers and foodservice operators can take advantage of new policy initiatives like MyPlate, new menu labeling regulations, WIC and others to increase produce consumption and increase sales.

The breakout sessions add to a busy schedule of events for the annual Washington Public Policy Conference, including the Wednesday keynote address from Chairman Lucas, discussions with federal regulators at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration and the popular Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill. Additionally, this year’s event includes the most visits to congressional offices by conference attendees in the event’s history.

Registration options and more information for the Washington Public Policy Conference is available at www.unitedfresh.org/programs/wppc.