• June 12th, 2010
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Congress Boosts Value of WIC Fruit and Vegetable Voucher for Moms

The FY10 Agricultural Appropriations Bill passed by Congress last week provided a $2 boost in the value of the fruit and vegetable vouchers for 1.6 million WIC moms. This increase will bring the women's fruit and vegetable vouchers up to $10 per month as recommended by the Institute of Medicine.

United Fresh, in collaboration with the National WIC Association and the Food Research and Action Center, has worked intensely over the last five months to accomplish this policy change.  USDA will fast track the regulations governing the shift and state WIC agencies will likely implement this increase within the next three months. This new benefit will be worth $41 million in additional fruit and vegetable purchases during this fiscal year. 

A table estimating the value of this $2 monthly increase for fruits and vegetables for each state can be found here, highlighting the benefit to both WIC moms and the produce industry as a whole. In California, for example, the increase in voucher worth will mean an additional $7 million in produce sales for the state. United Fresh is thrilled with this increase for fruits and vegetables for WIC moms, but we remain fully committed and engaged in urging the Obama Administration and Congress to also increase the value of the children's fruit and vegetable vouchers which reach 4.7 million WIC children each month," said Dr Lorelei DiSogra, United's vice president of nutrition. For more information, contact Dr. DiSogra at 202-303-3400.

The latest US health initiative is designed to make healthy food more accessible and affordable in under-served communities The Obama Administration has released details of a new health food program, worth in excess of US$400m, which will bring food retail stores and other health food retailers to under-served urban and rural communities across the US. A partnership between the US Departments of Treasury, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative will promote a range of interventions to expand access to nutritious foods, including developing and equipping grocery stores and other small businesses and retailers selling healthy food in communities which currently lack these options. Within seven years the multi-year project aims to eliminate these so-called food deserts - areas often found in economically distressed areas, which typically served by fast food restaurants and convenience stores that offer little or no fresh produce - and create thousands of jobs in urban and rural communities across the nation. To help community leaders identify the food deserts in their area, the USDA recently launched a Food Environment Atlas tool, which identifies counties where, for example, more than 40 per cent of the residents have low incomes and live more than 1 mile from a grocery store. Nationwide, the USDA estimates that 23.5m people, including 6.5m children, live in low-income areas which are located more than a mile from a supermarket. Of the 23.5m, 11.5m are low-income individuals in households with incomes at or below 200 per cent of the poverty line. Of the 2.3m people living in low-income rural areas (that are more than 10 miles from a supermarket) the USDA claims around 1.1m are low-income. "Our effort to improve access to healthy and affordable food is a critically important step toward First Lady Michelle Obama's goal to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The Healthy Food Financing Initiative will enhance access to healthy and affordable choices in struggling urban and rural communities, create jobs and economic development, and establish market opportunities for farmers and ranchers."

CDC releases fruite and vegetable consumption data

Fewer than 15% of Americans eat their recommended servings of both fruits and vegetables. That’s according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 summarizes consumption data by state. This is the first report to break down data not only by type of produce — fruits versus vegetables — but also have results reported by state.

To read more please view the article here

United Fresh Gets Results on Nutrition Policy

This past month United Fresh has helped make possible meaningful progress on national nutrition policy that will drive increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. In September, at the Washington Public Policy Conference, United Fresh unveiled a new policy initiative to see that every school has a salad bar. United's salad bar campaign is already receiving a positive response on Capitol Hill. What's more, starting last week, 9 million WIC moms and kids can, for the first time, use WIC vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. While these policy advances are historic milestones for increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, United's leadership to improve nutrition policy continues every day.

To read more please view the article here

The FDA Top Ten: The Riskiest Foods Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Many of the FDA Top Ten are, unfortunately, some of the healthiest and most popular foods consumed in the U.S. And while some are already considered “high risk” foods, others are surprising. The FDA Top Ten riskiest foods regulated by FDA are:

1. Leafy Greens: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness

2. Eggs: 352 outbreaks involving 11,163 reported cases of illness

3. Tuna: 268 outbreaks involving 2,341 reported cases of illness

4. Oysters: 132 outbreaks involving 3,409 reported cases of illness

5. Potatoes: 108 outbreaks involving 3,659 reported cases of illness

6. Cheese: 83 outbreaks involving 2,761 reported cases of illness

7. Ice Cream: 74 outbreaks involving 2,594 reported cases of illness

8. Tomatoes: 31 outbreaks involving 3,292 reported cases of illness

9. Sprouts: 31 outbreaks involving 2,022 reported cases of illness

10. Berries: 25 outbreaks involving 3,397 reported cases of illness

 

An article by United Fresh Produce Association responds to this.

Comments or Need Help? Let’s Walk the Talk America!!

...That eating could actually Help you lose weight? Well check out this article by Lucy Daziger, the Editor-in-Chief of SELF Magazine, as she takes you on a tour of the "8 Foods that Fight Fat"!

Comments or Need Help? Let’s Walk the Talk America!!

….That Computers, Video games and Cell Phones can be addictive? What are you doing in your home to ensure that your household is Electronic/Tech Addiction Proof?

Think about it: Here we are with “stuff” that we purchased with our hard earned money/or are gifts, now controlling us! Can you: Turn off the television to eat or go to bed? Put down the cell phone while driving or in a meeting? Turn off the computer and go to bed so you can get enough sleep? Please - Stop texting and driving before You kill someone!

Visit www.cnn.com/campbellbrown Friday October 2, 2009 Edition, search “computer addiction”

Comments or Need Help? Let’s Walk the Talk America!!