Columbus, Ohio-based DNO Produce President and Chief Operating Officer Alex DiNovo will attend the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities Kickoff event March 24.
DiNovo will be representing the International Fresh Produce Association and the IFPA’s Foundation for Fresh Produce, where he serves as chairman-elect, according to a news release. The event will be broadcast online.
At the event, DiNovo will discuss IFPA’s 8-Point Produce Plan for a National Nutrition Strategy, specifically speaking to the need to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to all low-income elementary, middle and high schools. FFVP is a USDA-funded in-classroom program that provides a variety of fresh produce snacks to elementary school students outside of designated school mealtimes, increasing both produce consumption and awareness in public schools.
Speakers at the event include Director of the Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Bacerra, humanitarian Chef Jose Andres, members of Congress and other public- and private-sector stakeholders, the release said.
The Foundation for Fresh Produce aims to change the trajectory of human health improving access to produce and driving consumption.
In September, the White House hosted the first Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in more than 50 years. During the event, a national strategy was unveiled, setting out five pillars to improve food access and affordability, integrate nutrition and health, empower consumers to make healthier choices, support physical activity and enhance nutrition and food security research — with the goal of ending hunger, reducing diet-related disease and increasing physical activity by 2030, according to the release.
The March 24 event will serve as a continuation of the conference, marking the next round of work to achieve the national strategy, the release said.
The release said DNO has committed to the White House conference goals through private partnerships that complement existing federal nutrition programs, such as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
For example, company leadership has connected with the food education nonprofit Pilot Light. DNO affiliate Freshealth joined forces with Pilot Light to launch a brand-new FFVP educational toolkit, SnackTime Explorers. This cross-sector collaboration leverages the strengths of both industry and nonprofit organizations to bridge the gap in implementation for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, the release said.
