WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sam Kass, Executive Director of Let’s Move!, Senior Nutrition Policy Advisor and Assistant Chef at the White House, will highlight the important role fresh produce plays in Let’s Move! as keynote speaker at the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Public Policy Conference on Wednesday, October 2. Let’s Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama’s signature initiative to improve the health of America’s children, emphasizes increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Sam Kass collaborated with United Fresh Produce to create Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, which supports the Let’s Move! initiative by donating salad bars to thousands of schools nationwide to increase children’s fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. Let’s Move! is improving children’s health across America and is credited with reducing obesity rates in low-income children, improving school nutrition and children’s eating habits.
“I think we’re at a tipping point,” said Kass in an interview for USA Today in August 2013. “We know if we all come together around our kids’ health, we can change our future and change their future.”
Kass played a leadership role in federal nutrition policy through the passage and current implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This legislation is dramatically transforming the school food environment by improving the healthfulness of school meals and snacks. Increasing children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables is a centerpiece of healthier school meals.
“Sam Kass is a dynamic leader, inspiring the public and private sectors to come together for real change to improve child nutrition, and we are excited to have him as a keynote speaker at the Washington Public Policy Conference,” said Tom Stenzel, President & CEO of United Fresh. “United Fresh is honored to be leading Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools and supporting First Lady Michelle Obama and Sam Kass in their work to improve nutrition for America’s children.”
The United Fresh Washington Public Policy Conference provides produce industry leaders from across the country the opportunity to network and explore key issues facing their industry, including immigration, nutrition, food safety, and labor. During the conference, participants have numerous opportunities to interact directly with members of Congress and their staff, as well as key officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For more information about the United Fresh Washington Public Policy Conference and to register for the conference, visit http://www.unitedfresh.org/wppc. For more information, please contact United’s Angela Tiwari, Political Affairs Manager, at atiwari@unitedfresh.org or 202-303-3416.
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association
