Today's Pricing

TOMATOES — F.O.B.S AS OF MAY 14

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICTS — Shipments (433-454-398) — Movement expected to increase. Trading moderate. Prices 5x6s higher, others lower. Extra services included. 25-pound cartons loose mature-greens 85% U.S. 1 or better 5x6s $8.95-9.95, 6x6s $7.95-8.95, 6x7s $7.95-8.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES, ARIZ. — Crossings (152-146-159, greenhouse 124-123-137, vine-ripes 28-23-22) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Supplies 4x4 to 4x5s light. Trading 4x4 to 4x5s fairly active, others slow. Prices 4x4 to 4x5s higher, others generally unchanged. Field-grown and greenhouse cartons/flats two-layer 4x4s mostly $9-10, 4x5s mostly $7.95-9, 5x5s mostly $4.99-5, 5x6s $4.64-5. Quality variable.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA, CALIF. — Crossings (8-8-11, greenhouse 7-7-9, vine-ripes 1-1-2) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first f.o.b. report was expected to be issued the week of May 21.

WEST FLORIDA DISTRICT — Shipments (0-0-0) — Light harvest expected to start the week of May 28. Expect first f.o.b. by the first week of June.

U.S. SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (54-56-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable

CANADA SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (149*-150-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable, *revised 



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Home > Opinion > Opinion > Produce stars in healthier school meals

Opinion

Produce stars in healthier school meals

02/03/2012 8:57:44 AM
Lorelei DiSogra

Starting later this year, our industry will have a much greater impact on the nutrition and health of millions of young people in this country. 
The new nutrition standards, announced in late January by first lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Visack, align the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. 
The new standards underscore the need for increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. 
In my career, it’s been a top goal to get more fruits and vegetables into school meals, so these new U.S. Department of Agriculture standards are truly a milestone. 
It’s the first such improvement in 15 years, and it will change the lives of 32 million kids who participate in the National School Lunch Program by dramatically increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables served. 
Specifically for lunches, the new standards will double the amount of fruits and vegetables served every day starting in the 2012-13 school year. 
It’s worth noting that fruits and vegetables must be served every day at lunch. Fruits and vegetables are now considered separate food components.
 
For breakfasts, the new standards will be phased in over several years to allow schools to focus on improving school lunch first. By the 2014-15 school year, the standards call for double the amount of fruit served every day at breakfast. 
Beyond just produce, the new standards require schools to meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. That includes increased whole grains, fat-free and low-fat milk in school meals and reduced levels of sodium, saturated fat and trans-fats. 
The kids are responding. 
They love fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with students at schools across the country to see first-hand their enthusiasm for fresh fruits and vegetables. 
Here at United Fresh we like to say that fruits and vegetables are the stars of healthier school meals, and you’d probably say that too if you saw how much kids enjoy fresh produce at lunch. 
I encourage The Packer’s readers to visit a school that has a salad bar or is serving lots of fresh produce and see the incredible impact our industry is making in so many young lives. 
The benefits of this new standard will have lasting effects. Increasing children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables will improve their health and reduce their risk of childhood obesity. 
Without a doubt, as these improved meal standards are implemented in schools across the nation, more of our children will gain a foundation for healthy eating for the rest of their lives, and all of us in the fresh produce industry should proudly embrace every opportunity to get involved.
Salad bars in schools
Salad bars are a great strategy for increasing access to fresh produce at school and they are one of the most effective ways to meet the new school meal standards by offering a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day. 
The United Fresh Foundation continues its leadership role in the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. We’re especially excited to focus on Texas schools to commemorate United Fresh 2012 in Dallas, May 1-3. 
United Fresh Foundation and produce industry leaders are donating salad bars to as many Texas schools as possible. 
In the past year, more than 1,100 schools nationwide have received salad bars from Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools. Any K-12 school or school district participating in the National School Lunch Program can apply to receive a salad bar. 
Now is the best time to make a donation and get involved today at www.saladbars2schools.org. Every new salad bar will have a lasting effect on the nutrition and health of children for years to come.
Lorelei DiSogra is vice president of nutrition and health for the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association.

Lorelei DiSogra, United Fresh Produce Association Starting later this year, our industry will have a much greater impact on the nutrition and health of millions of young people in this country. 

The new nutrition standards, announced in late January by first lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Visack, align the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. 

The new standards underscore the need for increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. 

In my career, it’s been a top goal to get more fruits and vegetables into school meals, so these new U.S. Department of Agriculture standards are truly a milestone. 

It’s the first such improvement in 15 years, and it will change the lives of 32 million kids who participate in the National School Lunch Program by dramatically increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables served. 

Specifically for lunches, the new standards will double the amount of fruits and vegetables served every day starting in the 2012-13 school year. 

It’s worth noting that fruits and vegetables must be served every day at lunch. Fruits and vegetables are now considered separate food components. For breakfasts, the new standards will be phased in over several years to allow schools to focus on improving school lunch first. By the 2014-15 school year, the standards call for double the amount of fruit served every day at breakfast. 

Beyond just produce, the new standards require schools to meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. That includes increased whole grains, fat-free and low-fat milk in school meals and reduced levels of sodium, saturated fat and trans-fats. 

The kids are responding. 

They love fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s always a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with students at schools across the country to see first-hand their enthusiasm for fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Here at United Fresh we like to say that fruits and vegetables are the stars of healthier school meals, and you’d probably say that too if you saw how much kids enjoy fresh produce at lunch. 

Courtesy United Fresh Produce AssociationUnited Fresh’s Lorelei DiSogra talks with students at Hooper Avenue School in Los Angeles about healthy eating at lunchtime. I encourage The Packer’s readers to visit a school that has a salad bar or is serving lots of fresh produce and see the incredible impact our industry is making in so many young lives. 

The benefits of this new standard will have lasting effects. Increasing children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables will improve their health and reduce their risk of childhood obesity. 

Without a doubt, as these improved meal standards are implemented in schools across the nation, more of our children will gain a foundation for healthy eating for the rest of their lives, and all of us in the fresh produce industry should proudly embrace every opportunity to get involved.

Salad bars in schools

Salad bars are a great strategy for increasing access to fresh produce at school and they are one of the most effective ways to meet the new school meal standards by offering a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day. 

The United Fresh Foundation continues its leadership role in the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. We’re especially excited to focus on Texas schools to commemorate United Fresh 2012 in Dallas, May 1-3. 

United Fresh Foundation and produce industry leaders are donating salad bars to as many Texas schools as possible. 

In the past year, more than 1,100 schools nationwide have received salad bars from Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools. Any K-12 school or school district participating in the National School Lunch Program can apply to receive a salad bar. 

Now is the best time to make a donation and get involved today at www.saladbars2schools.org.

Every new salad bar will have a lasting effect on the nutrition and health of children for years to come.

Lorelei DiSogra is vice president of nutrition and health for the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association.

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