Newark, DE. and Washington, D.C. – The Bipartisan Policy Center recently released a new study from its Food and Nutrition Security Task Force, on which International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) BB #:378962 Co-CEO Tom Stenzel serves.
The study, titled Strengthening the Child Nutrition Programs, puts forth for a number of broad nutrition policy recommendations, including bolstering food and nutrition security in and out of school; enhancing participation opportunities in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; aligning nutrition standards for all programs to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and a greater investment in research, data collection, and intra-agency collaboration to identity the connections between food and nutrition insecurity, diet quality, child nutrition with academic performance, chronic disease, and future workforce performance.
Of interest to IFPA members and the fresh produce community, the recommendations specifically call for:
• Increasing the accessibility, affordability, and intake of fruits and vegetables in child nutrition programs to improve nutrition security
• Adding a monthly fruit and vegetable benefit to Electronic Benefit Transfer cards so that children can continue to have access to fresh produce throughout the summer
• Expanding the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program by lowering the threshold for school eligibility and expanding to middle and high schools
• Permanently increasing the cash value benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables in the WIC program
“The reality is that only 1 in 10 Americans meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Stenzel. “Federal nutrition policy plays a pivotal role in helping Americans address barriers to consumption goals by providing nutrition access and interventions to those who need it most. Bi-partisan consensus like this shows, that no matter what side of the aisle one is on, fresh produce remains a critical component of all policy conversations about food, nutrition, and hunger.”
Nutrition policy is one of IFPA’s priority issues, for those interested in learning more about the association’s positions or recommendations, more information is available on the IFPA website.
About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our member’s prosperity by conducting advocacy; connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to take action with purpose and confidence. While IFPA is built on the legacy of United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association, it is not just a combination. It is transformational. Recognizing the industry required an even more powerful and unified voice, the leaders of the former United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association chose not to merge, but rather to create an entirely new organization to supersede their organizations, effective January 1, 2022.
