BRENTWOOD, MO - In its mission to advocate for the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) recently released a comprehensive research assessment on produce consumption-focused spending disparities in federal research, feeding, and education programs.

"To improve public health, fruit and vegetable consumption must be elevated as a national priority and commensurately funded," stated Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, PBH President and Chief Executive Officer. "An integrated, multi-sector effort, including increased spending across federal initiatives, is necessary to close the consumption gap. This Gap Analysis identifies the urgent need to specifically increase funding for innovative clinical and consumer research, intentional and improved access for all people, as well as inspiring and actionable ideas that create new, sustainable fruit and vegetable consumption habits."

Entitled Fruit & Vegetable Gap Analysis: Bridging The Disparity Between Federal Spending & America's Consumption Crisis, the assessment was created in partnership with Nutrition on Demand (NOD), a press release explained. This report is especially timely as the White House recently announced a September 2022 conference on hunger, nutrition, and health to discuss nutrition insecurities across the United States.

PBH's assessment was based on an extensive, year-long analysis of federal agency initiatives at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as feedback from an open comment period. Overall, the report examines how these agencies use funds to assist Americans with increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and the gaps and opportunities to enhance these efforts.

Key findings from the Gap Analysis include:

• America is experiencing a pervasive and persistent fruit and vegetable consumption crisis
• The economic stakes of low fruit and vegetable consumption, even with conservative estimates, are high
• Despite this consumption crisis, fruit and vegetable consumption as a primary dietary habit to support health and minimize chronic disease risk is inadequately funded across key government departments and agencies which are responsible for supporting evidence-based initiatives to improve public health
• Fruit and vegetable consumption must be elevated as a national priority, with increased and equitable funding across dedicated federal agencies, to support improved public health

To read more findings from the analysis, click here.

What future measures with PBH take to promote fruit and vegetable consumption? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the answers.

Produce for Better Health Foundation