Gov. Schwarzenegger takes aim at junk foods in school
Gov. Schwarzenegger takes aim at junk foods in school
The fresh-cut produce industry wasted no time in praising California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for remarks he made at a recent press event calling for a ban on junk foods in school vending machines and stressing the need to replace them with nutritious fruits and vegetables.
At the Arnold Classic body-building event, the Republican governor said that he supported legislation that would ban the sale of junk food in schools. In response to a question on ways to combat childhood obesity, he said, "First of all, we in California this year are introducing legislation that would ban all the sale of junk food in the schools."
Mr. Schwarzenegger, who has earned a national reputation for promoting physical fitness and nutrition, said that vending machines in schools should be filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.
Staff for the governor said that he supports legislation that would restrict the sale of soft drinks at public schools and another bill that would establish a pilot program for offering free fruits and vegetables in schools.
In response to the news, the International Fresh-cuts Produce Association fired off a letter to the California governor urging the state to lead the way in encouraging children to eat a greater share of fruits and vegetables.
?Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables provide a quick and convenient way for kids to eat more fruits and vegetables " they are naturally suited for both the school lunch program as well as vending machine programs in our schools," IFPA Chairman Bob Whitaker wrote in the letter. "Many IFPA member companies are California-based and produce a wide range of these healthy and convenient fruit and vegetable products. IFPA pledges our support for your efforts and commends you for leading the way for these California-grown and processed products to be added to the school lunch and snack programs."
?We were thrilled," said Heather Flower, a spokesman for Western Growers Association, of hearing the governor?s comments, adding that it was very encouraging to hear the continued emphasis on fighting obesity and promoting nutrition. WGA has penned its own nutrition bill, which has yet to be introduced in the state legislature, said Ms. Flower.
After a recent trip to Europe, IFPA President Jerry Welcome said that he saw how workplace and school vending machines could be retrofitted to sell healthy foods, such as fresh-cut apples or carrot and celery sticks.
Mr. Welcome said that he would like to see IFPA be more visible on the school nutrition debate. IFPA would work with any company, governor or school lunch program to expand healthy offerings in the schools, he said, adding that IFPA?s upcoming Fresh Expo includes a school system nutrition expert in a discussion on trends in fresh-cut sales.
At the Arnold Classic body-building event, the Republican governor said that he supported legislation that would ban the sale of junk food in schools. In response to a question on ways to combat childhood obesity, he said, "First of all, we in California this year are introducing legislation that would ban all the sale of junk food in the schools."
Mr. Schwarzenegger, who has earned a national reputation for promoting physical fitness and nutrition, said that vending machines in schools should be filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.
Staff for the governor said that he supports legislation that would restrict the sale of soft drinks at public schools and another bill that would establish a pilot program for offering free fruits and vegetables in schools.
In response to the news, the International Fresh-cuts Produce Association fired off a letter to the California governor urging the state to lead the way in encouraging children to eat a greater share of fruits and vegetables.
?Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables provide a quick and convenient way for kids to eat more fruits and vegetables " they are naturally suited for both the school lunch program as well as vending machine programs in our schools," IFPA Chairman Bob Whitaker wrote in the letter. "Many IFPA member companies are California-based and produce a wide range of these healthy and convenient fruit and vegetable products. IFPA pledges our support for your efforts and commends you for leading the way for these California-grown and processed products to be added to the school lunch and snack programs."
?We were thrilled," said Heather Flower, a spokesman for Western Growers Association, of hearing the governor?s comments, adding that it was very encouraging to hear the continued emphasis on fighting obesity and promoting nutrition. WGA has penned its own nutrition bill, which has yet to be introduced in the state legislature, said Ms. Flower.
After a recent trip to Europe, IFPA President Jerry Welcome said that he saw how workplace and school vending machines could be retrofitted to sell healthy foods, such as fresh-cut apples or carrot and celery sticks.
Mr. Welcome said that he would like to see IFPA be more visible on the school nutrition debate. IFPA would work with any company, governor or school lunch program to expand healthy offerings in the schools, he said, adding that IFPA?s upcoming Fresh Expo includes a school system nutrition expert in a discussion on trends in fresh-cut sales.
