In 2009, United Fresh Produce Association anticipates the 111th Congress will reauthorize the Child Nutrition and WIC Programs. This legislation, which will establish child nutrition and WIC policy for the next 5 years, was last authorized in 2004. Increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals is a top public policy priority for United Fresh Produce Association.
 The 2009 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (CNR) has the potential to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals, improve children's eating habits and promote good health. United Fresh is committed to working with Capitol Hill, our public health and nutrition allies, and others in the produce industry to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals. Additionally, we are focused on strategies like school salad bars and more fresh-cut fruits and vegetables that result in kids actually eating more fruits and vegetables.
Send a letter to your Members of Congress, and let them know you support enactment of a national "salad bar in every school" policy.
- Enact a National "Salad Bar in Every School" policy.
- Increase the current reimbursement rate for all school meals to reflect rising food, labor and transportation costs and to meet current nutrition standards and the Dietary Guidelines.
- Provide $10 million funding per year for non-food assistance grants to purchase needed equipment, such as refrigeration and salad bars, directly related to schools meeting the Dietary Guidelines, including more fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Urge USDA/AMS to significantly expand its commodity purchases of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables for schools.
- Increase funding for the DOD Fresh Program to $100 million/year.
United Fresh is committed to achieving its nutrition policy goals and is working in collaboration with the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) and the Child Nutrition Forum to build support for our industry's priorities.
Dr. Lorelei DiSogra, United Fresh Vice President of Nutrition and Health (center), enjoys a salad for lunch with students from the Will Rogers Learning Community in Santa Monica, CA. Lorelei and California Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura, travelled to Will Rogers School to showcase the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program.
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