WASHINGTON, DC - Exciting news ahead for leadership hopefuls! The inaugural Produce for All Leadership Summit (PFALS), cohosted by the Foundation for Fresh Produce and Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), will convene on June 10 in Washington, DC.

“An overwhelming majority of Americans are currently struggling with a variety of one or more diet-related diseases caused by issues related to food access, availability, appeal, education, and choices. While the economic cost of this is measured at an astounding $1.3 trillion annually, the human cost is immeasurable and untenable,” said Cathy Burns, Chief Executive Officer of IFPA and The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “Our nation’s health crisis didn’t happen overnight. Creating lasting, sustainable change by coming together at the Produce for All Leadership Summit to develop strategies and interventions and to establish connections to boost consumption of fruits and vegetables will change the trajectory of human health. We believe the outcomes from this inaugural Summit will have a transformative impact on public health and shift the paradigm towards good food and healthier communities.”

According to a press release, the Summit will bring together 130 leaders from across the food, food equity, and health spectrums to create an actionable plan to double produce consumption in communities around the United States.

“PHA has always believed in the power of collaboration; partnership is in our name after all,” said Noreen Springstead, President and CEO of PHA. “It’s going to take every sector coming together to uncover long-term, sustainable solutions to the complex issue of food inequity. This first of its kind event is the first step in uniting powerful and influential leaders across the produce sector to not only commit to, but create plans of action, to ensure that more people have access to the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, thriving lives.”

This builds on the commitment that IFPA and PHA announced as part of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health – to double consumption of fruits and vegetables in 15 cities by 2030.

Organizations in attendance include American Heart Association, DC Central Kitchen, Feeding America, FMI, the Food Industry Association, Milken Institute School of Public Health, the Rockefeller Foundation, USDA, and the Walmart Foundation.

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