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Issues: Consumption and Nutrition

PMA believes that everyone should strive to add more fruits and vegetables to their daily diets. PMA supports science-based nutrition advice and calls on the U.S. government to institute programs that promote increased consumption of fresh produce in schools and other government feeding programs. PMA also supports nutrition labeling of fruits and vegetables and provides its members with resources to do so.

PMA believes that taste, convenience, and nutrition (along with consumer education, particularly on food safety) are the cornerstones of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and fighting obesity. To that end, PMA offers the following resources:

Links for Consumers, Kids, Educators

• Scholastic "Crunch the Numbers" Program - Learn more about this PMA and Scholastic in-classroom and take-home curriculum that combines mathematics and produce. Or, go to the Scholastic Web site to see the actual program.
• Be Food Safe - This campaign uses core consumer food safety messages of “Clean”, “Cook”, “Separate” and “Chill.”
• Chart of PMA Members with Consumer Resources – This resource helps consumers and educators learn more about fresh produce via product information, recipes, kids’ content, and educational materials.

• MyPyramid Web site

  • MiPirámide: Pasos Hacia Una Mejor Salud Web site

• Nutrition.gov Web site

• Produce for Better Health Foundation: Fruits & Vegetables - More Matters

PMA Member Consumption & Nutrition Briefings & Resources

• New! PMA Comments to USDA on WIC Changes - January 28, 2010
• New! IOM Recommendations for School Lunches and Breakfasts (including more produce on menus)
• New! CDC Report on State Consumption of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• WIC and the Battle Against Childhood Overweight
• The Food Assistance Landscape: FY 2008 Annual Report
• The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues, 2009 Edition
• PMA Provides Oral Testimony on 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

• PMA Comments to USDA on Child Nutrition Reauthorization

• California Fresh Start Program Report
• FDA Downloadable Nutrition Posters for Retail Produce Departments
• PMA Analysis of 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

• Keystone Forum on Away-From-Home Foods: Opportunities for Preventing Weight Gain and Obesity

• Promoting Fruits and Vegetables in Schools: Wellness Policy Opportunities

• School Fruit & Vegetable Procurement Study

• USDA Report to U.S. Congress: Evaluation of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program

• PMA Trans Fat Labeling Requirement Overview

• PMA Issue Alerts

• NEW! Check out PMA's Field to Fork blog, where you can read posts on topics of interest to our members.