PBH Meets with Let's Move Initiative

Hockessin, Del. - Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) was among several members of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance who met with several key advisors and senior staff members of the First Lady's Let's Move Initiative at the White House today. 

The meeting was scheduled at the request of the Alliance and was an opportunity to introduce the Alliance and identify areas of potential collaboration.

"We had two main interests going into the meeting, to encourage Let's Move to work with the Alliance to help achieve our collective objective of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption through policy and community initiatives, and to encourage Let's Move to be publicly supportive of existing Fruits & Veggies-More Matters resources," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., President and CEO of PBH and co-chair of the Alliance.  "Fruits & Veggies-More Matters is an existing public face for the fruit and vegetable category, with extensive education materials, a large network of messengers, and a website that literally pushes suggestions to mothers.  Making sure that Let's Move was aware of what currently exists was important.  The First Lady is already supportive of fruits and vegetables to help reduce childhood obesity; a closer alignment with the Alliance and Fruits & Veggies-More Matters would be that much more helpful in our efforts."

The National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA) is an extensive network of federal and state government agencies, non-profit organizations, and fruit/vegetable industry members who work collaboratively and synergistically to achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health.  Produce for Better Health Foundation and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention co-chair the Alliance.

In addition to Produce for Better Health Foundation, other members of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance who were present included American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, California Department of Health, National Alliance for Nutrition & Activity, National Council of Fruit & Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators, and associations representing all forms of fruits and vegetables, including American Frozen Food Institute, Canned Food Alliance, Produce Marketing Association, and United Fresh Produce Association.  As members of the Alliance, government officials from USDA and CDC were also present at the meeting.