A seminal bill introduced last week by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is eliciting cheers from United Fresh.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act of 2010 (S. 3144) reflects many of United’s priorities for the Child Nutrition Reauthorization, most notably the bill’s prominent recognition of school salad bars as an effective strategy for increasing children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables and funding for salad bars and cafeteria equipment. Sen. Boxer’s colleague from North Carolina, Democrat Kay Hagan has co-sponsored S. 3144 and is also very committed to increasing fruits and vegetables in school meals.  

"United Fresh has worked for more than a decade to advance federal nutrition policies that increase access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables," said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. "Sen. Boxer’s bill will help our efforts to ensure school meals provide a wide variety of healthy fruits and vegetables that help children develop healthy eating habits for a lifetime."

The Healthy Food in Schools Act is the companion bill to H.R. 4333, The Children's Fruit and Vegetable Act of 2009, introduced by Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA) and Adam Putnam (R-FL), which now has 57 co-sponsors. Together, these two bills offer policy recommendations that will help to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. 

"Perhaps at no other time has the opportunity been greater to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for our nation's school children," Stenzel added. "United Fresh is committed to working with the Obama Administration and Congress to significantly improve consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to foster healthier lifestyles for American kids."