According to a report issued this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not a single state in the U.S. is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruit and vegetables

State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 was released Tuesday and highlights consumption levels for all 50 states, as well as three key areas for policy improvement, including healthier food retail, the availability of healthier food in schools and overall food system support. 

"This report emphasizes that environmental and policy changes need to take place at the national, state and local to increase fruit and vegetable consumption for all Americans," said United Fresh Vice President of Nutrition and Health Dr. Lorelei DiSogra.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 initiative aims for at least 75 percent of Americans to eat the recommended two or more daily servings of fruit and for at least 50 percent of Americans to eat the recommended three or more servings of vegetables. However, the CDC report finds that only 33 percent of adults are meeting the recommendations for fruit intake, and only 27 percent are doing so for vegetables. The data paints an even bleaker picture for American young people, indicating that only 32 percent of high school students eat the recommended servings of fruit, and only 13 percent eat the recommended servings of vegetables.

"A diet high in fruits and vegetables is important for optimal child growth, maintaining a healthy weight, and prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, all of which currently contribute to health care costs in the United States," said Dr. William H. Dietz, director of CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. "This report will help states determine what is taking place in their communities and schools and come up with ways to encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables."

CDC Senior Scientist Heidi Blanck took a simpler perspective. "This is a call for states, communities, schools and families to support increased fruit and vegetable consumption."

Dr. DiSogra couldn't agree more. "United Fresh's leadership in policy changes such as the recent addition of fruits and vegetables to WIC, national expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and increasing access to fruits and vegetables in school meals and throughout the entire school food environment are critical steps to improving this situation."