“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jelena Gligorijević to our team as we continue our work to change the trajectory of human health,” said Lauren M. Scott, president of The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “Dr. Gligorijević’s expertise and global perspective is innovative for the produce industry, opening the door for meaningful alliances with the medical community to deliver on a shared goal of improving health through better nutrition.”
Worldwide, people highly trust their doctors for nutrition advice. Stepping into this community with an expert of Gligorijević’s talent will allow the produce industry to demonstrate its value to the larger global health conversation in new and powerful ways.
Gligorijević’s appointment supports the foundation’s mission to drive fruit and vegetable consumption. Her role will raise and strengthen the clinical and public health case for produce, ensuring that fruits and vegetables are recognized by the medical community as essential to health and disease prevention. This is particularly important for children as they form life-long healthy habits, including a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
“I am honored to join The Foundation for Fresh Produce as the first chief medical officer,” said Gligorijević. "Fruits and vegetables have the power to prevent disease, extend lives and promote equity. I look forward to working with healthcare providers, researchers, and industry partners to turn the power of nutrition — and particularly produce — into measurable progress in global health."
