IFPA applauds introduction of bill supporting healthy meals for kids

The International Fresh Produce Association 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.

Some of IFPA’s recommendations in the bill include 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.