I wish all United Fresh members could have joined me last Thursday in California when I had the honor of visiting the Will Rogers Learning Community in Santa Monica. To see the immediate impact of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program was extremely uplifting.

These elementary school students were - and are - so excited about trying new fresh fruits and vegetables and can easily tell you all about what they now like, what they want to have again and what they are asking their parents for at home. The dramatic impact of this program was highlighted over and over throughout my visit. Some things that really stood out for me were:

• A mom who came up to me to tell me that her son – who wouldn’t touch a green vegetable – now loves broccoli and eats it every night for dinner.
• A group of students who asked that green plums, Pineapple Pals®, pears, jicama and raspberries be served more often.
• A handful of 5th graders who make salads for each lunchtime visitor to the school from a school salad bar that offered 13 different colorful fruits and vegetables.
• Irma Lyons, the school principal, who told me that the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program had changed the very spirit and atmosphere of the school!

Imagine all of this happening in the first 60 days of this program.  A very small investment, $50 per student per year, is not only transforming the lives of these elementary school students and a million other students in elementary schools across this country this school year, but is also feeding valuable revenue into our industry in a tough economic time.

I encourage all United Fresh members to visit at least one Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program-participating school in their community to personally witness these children as they learn to love fruits and vegetables. Remember, these children are our present and future consumers.  Next Friday, I head to Rochester, N.Y. to visit North Rose Elementary School, so please join me if you are in the area. For more information, or for help finding a participating school in your area, please contact me at 202-303-3400.

Dr. Lorelei DiSogra
Vice President, Nutrition and Health
United Fresh