Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush kicked off the 2010 convention and expo of the United Fresh Produce Association today at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
In his address to the produce industry during Tuesday’s General Session at United Fresh 2010, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush reminded the assembled attendees of the work left to do to guide the industry out of the recent economic doldrums into a more prosperous environment.
Outlining each of a five-point plan for economic recovery, Bush emphasized the importance of a sound and practical tax code, including the role of such a code in the success of small businesses, which comprise a significant portion of the produce industry. Also, Bush touched on the recent movement to tax based on communal good and include incentives for beneficial and healthful products.
"We ought to be taxing the things we want less of," said Bush, "… and place lesser taxes on the things that we need more of."
In addition to taxes, the former governor strongly underscored the importance of sound and meaningful immigration reform, pointing to its critical role in the produce industry and receiving boisterous applause from audience members.
"We need to have a progressive immigration system in our country," said Bush. "Immigration is a source of our greatness."
Also at the General Session, in one of the most memorable early moments of United Fresh 2010, United’s Vice President of Nutrition and Health Dr. Lorelei DiSogra was named The Packer’s Produce Person of the Year.
Recognized by the trade publication for her leadership on child nutrition and consumption issues, including the inclusion of vouchers for fruits and vegetables in the WIC food packages, nationwide expansion of the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, and most recently, the championing of salad bars in schools as an effective means of increasing consumption, including United’s current Salad Bar in Every School campaign, DiSogra has led the industry to significant victories throughout her career and for the past five years with United Fresh.
"There are so many that work so hard to bring these programs to fruition," said DiSogra. "If we all continue to work together, we can make the goal of increasing children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables a reality."
United Fresh also launched the second version of its smartphone application—or "app"—for BlackBerry devices. Similar to its counterpart for the iPhone, the BlackBerry app allows United Fresh 2010 attendees to customize their show experience for one of the four United Fresh Market Segment Boards: Grower-Shipper, Retail-Foodservice, Fresh-Cut Processor or Wholesaler-Distributor. Users may download the application at http://www.unitedfresh.org/mobile/blackberry.php. Users with iPhones may still download the iPhone app by accessing the Apple iTunes store and searching for "United Fresh." Once the United Fresh 2010 icon appears, users must click "Get App" to download the application to their iPhone.
Tomorrow, United Fresh 2010 continues with a Breakfast General Session address by New York City SchoolFood officials Eric Goldstein and Chef Jorge Collazo, who will speak about the challenges and successes of feeding 1.1 million students each school day in the nation’s largest school district, as well as the importance of school salad bars in that effort. Following the address, attendees will hear from FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael Taylor during the later General Session. Taylor will discuss the pressing topic of food safety in The Future of Food Safety Legislation and Produce Regulation.
Also tomorrow, United’s Salad Bar in Every School campaign, in cooperation with The Vollrath Company and the Cambro Manufacturing Company, will donate salad bars to two schools in Pahrump, Nev., followed by the association’s annual Reception Honoring Women in Produce.
For a full schedule of events and more information on United Fresh 2010, which runs today through Thursday, please visit www.unitedfresh2010.org.
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