Overwhelming Turnout Defines Industry Commitment
With an unprecedented 36 percent increase in attendance from last year's conference, the Washington Public Policy Conference drew some 450 produce industry leaders from 36 states to Washington, D.C. last week to carry a unified produce industry message to the nation's political leaders.
Attendance at the event has increased every year since the inaugural WPPC 15 years ago, when 100 industry members came together to meet with national leaders and advocate the industry's views.
"With the current economic environment, we were frankly shocked at the increase of more than 100 attendees this year," said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. "But it is clear that more industry members than ever truly get the importance of taking a united voice to Congress and the administration on key issues affecting our industry."
Agriculture Secretary Sets Conference Pace on Multiple Issues
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack kicked off this year's conference with an inspiring message about the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables to the nation's health, the rural economy and international trade. Calling healthier eating a cornerstone of controlling future health care costs, Secretary Vilsack spoke of several new USDA programs focusing on increasing access to fresh produce in schools, in federal feeding programs, and in areas known as "fresh food deserts" in both inner cities and rural areas where grocery stores may be long distances from consumers.
Turning to the Obama Administration's strong push in food safety, Secretary Vilsack commended United Fresh for the association's early and pivotal support of strong food safety standards for produce. He reinforced the notion that consumers need to have confidence in the nation's food safety systems and government oversight in order to be comfortable increasing their consumption of fresh produce, even when occasional outbreaks occur.
Lastly, Secretary Vilsack addressed the lack of understanding on the part of most Americans as to where their food comes from. He said that President Obama was personally committed to USDA helping consumers better understand the real connection between farmers and the foods the buy in grocery store, using the address to announce the launch of USDA’s new "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" program.
Salad Bar Shines at Capitol Hill Reception
United Fresh delivered a powerful message to Congress, as well as dozens of fruit and vegetable tasting displays, at this year's Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill. Held in the U.S. House of Representatives Cannon office building, Fresh Festival this year included a brand new salad bar stationed in the center of the historic Cannon Caucus Room to emphasize United's Salad Bar in Every School initiative. "Salad bars are such a great way to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables," said United Vice President for Nutrition and Health Dr. Lorelei DiSogra. "Research shows that if you give kids more choice in the form of a salad bar, they'll try new items and make healthier choices."
Aiding in the salad bar message was Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), a leading proponent of child nutrition and a key United Fresh ally in the effort to bring salad bars to school cafeterias nationwide. Congressman Farr joined in recognizing United's effort with the salad bar initiative, and also in the association's commitment to donate the salad bar to a local elementary school in the District of Columbia following the event.
130 Industry Visits; One Industry Voice to Congress
What do you get when produce industry leaders visit 130 different Members of Congress and their staffs on one afternoon? An awful lot of attention on the issues that matter most to our industry. "This year we put together 27 different teams of produce leaders from around the country who represented every corner of our industry," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy. "Each team delivered a personal appeal as local constituents of the Congressmen and Senators they met with, but every group was on a unified message to serve our industry. That's the power of this conference," he said.
Produce teams this year focused on educating legislators on five issues – 1) implementing realistic food safety measures that are commodity-specific and based on sound science; 2) supporting a national Salad Bar in Every School policy; 3) opposing the Employee Free Choice Act, or "card check" legislation; 4) reinstating the pilot U.S.-Mexico cross border truck safety program to put an end to retaliatory tariffs on select produce commodities, and 5) supporting real immigration reform to create a legal and sustainable labor force for the produce industry.
Management Resource Center Offers New Strategic Business Tool
United's inaugural Management Resource Center at WPPC was hailed as a success by both attendees and some 30 different solutions providers who used the venue to discuss new technologies and best practices in food safety, traceability and other areas being driven by public policy. "I was surprised and pleased with the number of vendors displaying their products and educating those of us in attendance about important food safety, traceability and sustainability initiatives we are grappling with," said David Dever, president and CEO of Pandol Brothers.
"Given the DC location and the importance of food safety in discussions with members of Congress and FDA, we were able to learn first-hand from government regulators what the industry should expect, while in turn being able to offer solutions to address existing and upcoming regulations through advanced technologies," said Kerry Farrell, vice president of sales and marketing for FoodLogiQ.
FDA Leadership, Food Safety Issues Take Center Stage
As Friday's keynote speaker, new FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg laid out the Obama Administration's food safety agenda in a carefully crafted message that had attendees texting their home offices within minutes of her speech. Commissioner Hamburg thanked United’s President Tom Stenzel for the association's leadership in food safety, and also for helping arrange field tours for her and her staff to become more familiar with the produce industry, in both growing and processing fresh and fresh-cut produce.
"I think this was the first time that many in our industry really grasped the extent and pace of change in food safety oversight and potential new regulations that we can expect from the Administration," said United senior vice president of food safety and technology Dr. David Gombas. "We're all concentrating on the food safety legislation moving on Capitol Hill; meanwhile, Commissioner Hamburg made it clear FDA is moving even faster implementing changes it views as important under current law," he said.
Dr. Gombas' view of FDA action was reinforced in a candid Town Hall discussion at FDA's College Park, Md. campus with officials from its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). Concurrent with the Capitol Hill visits to Members of Congress, some 120 WPPC attendees traveled to the FDA to engage in an open dialogue with experts in areas including regulatory compliance, sampling and testing, field inspections, microbiology, and communications.
Networking, Fundraising and a Nationals Win Highlight FreshPAC Event
Despite a ninth-inning grand slam by Philadelphia's Matt Stairs, the Washington Nationals edged the visiting Phillies 8-7 at Nationals Park last Thursday night. The Nationals weren't the only ones to pick up a victory, however. 155 of the produce industry's finest gathered at one of baseball’s newest and most beautiful ballparks to celebrate the future of produce at a fundraiser for United's FreshPAC.
Using personal contributions to assist in the election of pro-produce candidates in the House and Senate, FreshPAC helps to ensure that produce interests are well represented in Washington.
"We couldn't be happier with the dedication shown by this year's attendees," said event organizer and United’s Political Affairs Manager Angela Bezon. "With more than 150 attendees and a minimum contribution of $250, FreshPAC will be able to make some critical steps forward as a direct result of this event."
For more information on FreshPAC, contact Angela at 202-303-3400 ext. 416 or log on to www.unitedfresh.org/programs/freshpac.
WPPC Gives Volunteer Leadership Boards a Chance to Discuss Year Ahead
In addition to three full days of activities at last week's Washington Public Policy Conference, the members of United's various volunteer leadership boards and councils took the opportunity to meet and discuss policy and priorities for the coming year.
"One of the strongest assets we have as an association is the commitment of our volunteer leaders," said United's Vice President of Communications and staff liaison to the United Fresh Grower-Shipper Board Ray Gilmer. "While we are able to easily communicate and share ideas electronically with our board and council members scattered across the globe, there is no substitute for the face-to-face contact and personal interaction of meetings like these."
In addition to the Grower-Shipper board, the following market segment boards and councils met last week:
- Wholesaler-Distributor Board
- Fresh-Cut Processor Board
- Retail-Foodservice Board
- Government Relations Council
- Supply Chain Logistics Council
- Food Safety & Technology Council
For more information on United Fresh volunteer leadership, please contact United at 202-303-3400.
Leadership Alumni Organization Gathers to Share Successes, Feedback
Volunteer leadership boards weren't the only groups using the Washington Public Policy Conference as an opportunity to meet. Current and former members of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program held formal meetings Wednesday morning, then gathered at Tortilla Coast, a popular spot among congressional staffers and politicos on Capitol Hill Wednesday night.
"The mission of the Leadership Program to get up-and-coming industry leaders more involved with their colleagues and counterparts goes hand-in-hand with the goal of the WPPC to get the whole industry more involved with the public policy decisions made here in Washington," said United Fresh Vice President of Business Development Claudia Wenzing. "So having these dedicated leaders together in one room, sharing ideas and successes in such close proximity to the nation’s decision makers is a real advantage."
United Recognizes Industry Excellence and Leadership with Annual Awards
There is no doubt that much progress was made here in Washington as a result of the dedication of a record number of attendees to the WPPC last week, but progress and dedication was also rewarded in the form of the annual Grower Achievement Award and the Industry Advocate of the Year Award.
Presented by Syngenta and American Vegetable Grower magazine, the 2009 Grower Achievement Award was presented Thursday to representatives from Ed Hansen Farms of Stanley, N.J. The award is given each year to a grower operation that is a genuine role model to the entire industry. Accepting the award on behalf of the company his grandfather founded in 1955 was Eric Hansen. Recent winners of the award include Lewis Taylor Farms (2008), Anthony Farms (2007) and Teixeira Farms (2006).
On Friday, United Fresh President Tom Stenzel presented Pro*Act LLC with the Produce Industry Advocate of the Year Award, presented annually to the United member who has demonstrated outstanding support for United's public policy advocacy and has worked to ensure the advancement of policy objectives with elected leaders and administration officials.
"Congratulations to the outstanding teams at Ed Hansen Farms and Pro*Act," said Stenzel. "We look forward to their continued involvement and dedication to building a stronger produce industry."
Capitol Tour, Embassy Meeting and White House Briefing Highlight Final Day of WPPC
The largest-ever Washington Public Policy Conference went out with a bang on Friday with a packed schedule. After the breakfast address from FDA Commissioner Hamburg, attendees split up to take part in three exciting programs
A large group stayed at the headquarters hotel to hear from officials from the Obama Administration. Originally slated to take place at the White House, the briefing allowed for more attendees and gave the White House officials time to visit with attendees and United senior staff for discussions on a wide range of issues affecting the produce industry. Special emphasis was put on child nutrition and United's effort to put a salad bar in every school.
Additionally, in special commemoration of the attacks of September 11, approximately 70 WPPC attendees braved strong rain and paid a special visit to the brand new United States Capitol Visitors Center, followed by a tour of the Capitol rotunda, original Senate and Supreme Court chambers and other features.
Meanwhile, a third group took part in a special briefing on North American trade at the Canadian Embassy. Co-hosted and moderated by our colleagues at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the meeting provided WPPC attendees the chance to speak directly with Canadian officials on matters ranging from trade to harmonization to food safety.
White House Opens Doors (and Garden) for United Board
On Friday, United's Board of Directors enjoyed a private visit to the White House garden to see first-hand how the administration is raising public awareness of the benefits of fresh produce. After a careful check at security, the Board members walked through the Rose Garden, past landmarks such as the First Family swing set and basketball court, and to the new vegetable garden tucked away on the South Lawn.
Board members heard from White House staff about the 50+ varieties of vegetables, including spinach, lettuce and peppers, plus tomatoes grown from seeds dating back to Thomas Jefferson and his farm at Monticello. The Board also learned that this is the first garden planted at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden in World War II. United President Tom Stenzel remarked that is was only a coincidence that United moved its headquarters office to Washington, DC in 1943, where the association has represented the fresh produce industry ever since.
Underscoring the exclusive garden visit was the Obama Administration's emphasis on healthy eating, and making fruits and vegetables a greater part of Americans' diets. It was a welcome message that echoed a consistent theme heard during the WPPC.
Upon returning from the White House, the Board conducted its fall meeting, covering business topics including a very positive membership report for 2009, in which a record 175 new member companies joined the association. This marks the eighth consecutive year with more than 100 new member companies. The Board addressed a number of industry policy issues in areas such as food safety and nutrition, as well as several new member service programs. Additionally, the four market sector boards presented reports on their meetings representing each segment in the supply chain, which included recommendations for convention programs, educational projects and other action items. United's volunteer leaders will meet again in January for the association's annual Winter Leadership Meetings.
A Closing Message from United Fresh Chairman Jim Lemke
It's quite an experience to sit down, face-to-face with a powerful member of the U.S. Congress and share your ideas for how to make our industry, and our country, better. The same goes for talking with the Secretary of Agriculture, Commissioner of the FDA or other member of the administration. That's what the United Fresh Washington Public Policy Conference is all about, and I want to thank all of you of who attended or sponsored this event for the benefit of our industry.
The energy at the conference events was truly palpable. The Fresh Festival was jammed with hungry, smiling faces from hundreds of congressional offices. Several members of Congress came by to see our school salad bar, on top of visiting with festival exhibitors who lined the Canon Caucus Room. It's no wonder that United's Fresh Festival is widely regarded as one of the most popular Hill events of the year, and the long line of congressional staff waiting to get in was proof enough.
The energy continued to build at the Mayflower Hotel. The excitement seemed to increase as the day progressed. It was clear to me that conference attendees were engaged and driven to make a positive difference for our industry on priorities such as food safety, labor and transportation. And on Capitol Hill, I believe that lawmakers and their staffs could see our passion, commitment and determination for fixing problems and making our industry stronger.
For example, in one of the meetings I attended, the congressman asked his staffer about nutrition and increasing consumption for children, and the staffer responded back with "… remember our discussion about the ‘salad bar in every school’ concept." They heard us, they understand our messages and I believe they will be making decisions that will help unlock the future of produce. That's exciting!
I have never been more proud to be part of the produce industry, and the privilege to serve as United's chairman during this exciting time makes it all the more rewarding. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm, involvement and support as we work together to find solutions and build strength for this amazing industry.
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