NEWARK, DE & WASHINGTON, DC - As President Biden recently announced, the Administration will host the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health this September, potentially bringing a heightened focus on the role of fresh fruits and vegetables in a healthy diet. Following this announcement, multiple industry organizations issued statements applauding the move.

“The last time the White House convened experts on food, nutrition and health was 1969. That’s two, or three, generations of consumers since the last cohesive national effort on these significant issues,” said International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Vice President of Nutrition and Health Mollie Van Lieu. “Our nutrition challenges have changed dramatically in the last 50 years with more than three quarters of the country overweight or obese. We applaud the White House for recognizing the importance and urgency of addressing dietary quality, especially as the consequences of nutritional insecurity are so far-reaching. The fresh produce industry has long advocated for increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, but success will require a bold and coordinated strategy and public-private partnership. We look forward to bringing the industry’s expertise and insights to this process as it moves forward.”

According to a recent release, the Administration will hold a series of regional listening sessions throughout the spring and summer before the September launch of a national strategy with the goal to solve hunger, reduce diet-related disease, and increase physical activity by 2030.

As noted by the organization, IFPA will participate in all available opportunities to provide feedback and recommendations and will share updates with the industry on these efforts. In addition, IFPA has joined the national Strategy Group on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to help inform the Conference.

Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and Chief Executive Officer of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) also issued a statement applauding the upcoming launch.

“The Produce for Better Health (PBH) Foundation applauds today’s announcement that the White House has scheduled a conference on hunger, nutrition, and health for September 2022, which is, coincidentally, National Fruits & Veggies Month,” she said. “As the only national philanthropy dedicated to increasing consumption of all fruits and vegetables, PBH is poised to support the conference with our consumer behavior research insights, multi-sector stakeholder partnerships, and digital educational resources that, daily, reach over 1 million Americans to help everyone enjoy more fruits and vegetables for happier, healthier lives.”

Reinhardt Kapsak continued, stating, “Nine out of 10 Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables each day—and with federal feeding and nutrition programs not adequately funded to close this gap—PBH believes it’s imperative to elevate fruit and vegetable consumption as a national priority to help improve public health and nutrition security. PBH, along with its members and partners, is eager to participate in the White House conference to help transform fruit and vegetable consumption behaviors through innovative consumer research; improved access for all people; and actionable, inspiring ideas that create new habits.”

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International Fresh Produce Association Produce for Better Health Foundation