United Fresh Welcomes New Competitive Foods Rule

New proposal ensures healthy snacks in vending machines and snack bars in schools

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Fresh applauds USDA's "Smart Snacks in Schools" proposed rule which establishes nutrition standards for all of the foods and beverages sold in schools. The proposed rule emphasizes promoting the availability of healthy snack foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy and protein. This rule supports and complements the new school meal standards, helps create healthier school food environments, and makes the healthy choice the easy choice for our nation's school children.

“Increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks in schools will go a long way towards creating a healthy school food environment and improving nutrition for millions of school children”

“Increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks in schools will go a long way towards creating a healthy school food environment and improving nutrition for millions of school children,” said Dr. Lorelei DiSogra, United’s vice president of nutrition & health.”In addition, this will drive opportunities for increased produce sales to schools.”

The "Smart Snacks in Schools" proposed rule complements and supports the recent improvements to school meals and underscores United’s commitment to improving child nutrition. The landmark new school lunch regulations, which were implemented at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, doubled the amount of fruits and vegetables served every day and emphasized providing a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables each week.

United Fresh has championed healthier school food environments over the past decade. United is the lead advocate for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides a fresh fruit and vegetable snack to more than 4 million low-income elementary school children every day. The Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools campaign, of which United is a founding member, also aims to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and has donated salad bars to more than 2,000 schools to date to achieve that goal.

United Fresh will review the proposed rule in its entirety and work with our members, nutrition advocates and other stakeholders, to submit comments within 60 days to USDA on how to strengthen the proposed rule.

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.