Newark, De. & Washington, D.C. – The International Fresh Produce Association BB #:378962 commends leadership of the House Committee on Education and Labor for its recent commitment to the health of U.S. children via the introduction of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, which includes several of IFPA’s recommendations including expanding access to school meals, providing funding for school kitchen equipment, extending WIC benefits to age six, and researching the impact of meal times on fruit and vegetable consumption.
“We applaud Committee Chair Bobby Scott and Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Suzanne Bonamici for continuing to build on Congressional efforts to expand school and summer meal programs and boost access to programs like WIC, “ said IFPA Vice President of Nutrition & Health Mollie Van Lieu.
“As the CNR process moves forward, we encourage Congress to identify additional ways to increase children’s access to fruits and vegetables, like adding a dedicated benefit to Summer EBT and expanding the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.”
Specifically, the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act will:
• Expand access to school meals
• Preserve the future of school meal programs
• Modernize the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Address food insecurity during the summer
• Improve school meal capacity and sustainability
• Strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
IFPA will continue to collaborate and advocate with policymakers to ensure the fresh produce industry’s voice is heard and that fresh fruits and vegetables play a key role in all aspects of nutrition policy, which is a priority issue for the association.
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.
