VIVA Fresh Produce Expo Announces Keynote Speaker

The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) introduces Dr. David Katz as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Viva Fresh Produce Expo and Conference on March 26-28, 2015 in Austin, Texas. Dr. Katz is the founding director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center and the principal inventor of the NuVal nutritional guidance system, currently in roughly 2,000 U.S. supermarkets in more than 30 states, coast to coast. In addition, Dr. Katz has been named one of America’s Top Physicians in Preventive Medicine three times by the Consumer’s Research Council of America, and serves as a judge of best diets for the annual ranking published by U.S. News & World Report. He was also named one of the 25 most influential people in the lives of children by Children’s Health Magazine; and in 2012-14, he was been named one of the 100 most influential people in health and fitness in the world by Greatist.com. Dr. Katz has an extensive media portfolio, having worked for ABC News/Good Morning America as an on-air contributor, a writer for the New York Times syndicate, and a columnist to O, the Oprah Magazine. Currently, he is a blogger/medical review board member for the Huffington Post, a health contributor to US News & World Report, one of the original 150 ‘thought leader’ INfluencer bloggers for LinkedIn; a blogger and columnist for TIME Magazine; and a contributing health writer on childhood obesity for About.com. “The Viva Fresh Expo provides a platform to assist the produce industry in promoting the health benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. As a visionary leader in preventive medicine, who has authored and co-authored 15 books, Dr. Katz can provide important insights and information for the industry to raise the bar on education and the critical health benefits of fruits and vegetables,” says Bret Erickson. Jimmy Bassetti, president of J&D Produce and member of the Viva Fresh Expo steering committee says, “I have had the honor of attending a speaking engagement with Dr. Katz and he is an amazing, dynamic speaker. I was inspired by his expert guidance and passion for helping both adults and children maintain healthier lifestyles.” The keynote session is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am and will be the follow-up to the previous day’s educational sessions. Find a schedule of events here.