The Packer, TIPA present Healthy Living Award to Texas legislator

HOUSTON — With an event name like Viva Fresh, the Texas International Fresh Produce Association promotes the role produce plays in a healthy lifestyle.

During a keynote lunch, TIPA and The Packer presented the annual Healthy Living Award to Texas state Rep. Carrie Isaac.

Isaac was instrumental in co-sponsoring H.B. 3991, which established the first Friday in April as Texas Fruit and Vegetable Day in all public schools. The first Texas Fruit and Vegetable Day was observed April 5, 2024.

Isaac said her interest in health and nutrition began when was expecting her first child.

“The thought of me being 100% responsible for the nutrition of my child made me look at my food a little closer," she said. "As I started looking into food and nutrition, I quickly realized just how little I knew about the food I put in my mouth, how little my family knew and how little the doctors know about nutrition."

As Isaac studied nutrition, she learned that childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years.

“Less than 50% of our children are eating fruit; less than 90% are eating enough vegetables,” she said.

The lawmaker said a recent study shows programs that introduce children to fruits and vegetables help reduce childhood obesity. While studying for her master’s degree in health education, Isaac said she saw a video of a chef in a school pulling out vegetables from a bag and asking the students to identify them.

“I was appalled by how few children could identify the vegetables,” she said. 

Isaac said it was at a legislative event where she met TIPA President and CEO Dante Galeazzi, who passionately spoke about the benefits of fruits and vegetables. She worked with Galeazzi to create Texas Fruit and Vegetable Day to bring produce to the forefront of schools in Texas.

Isaac was a unanimous decision this year by the nominating committee.

“The award’s purpose is to recognize people who make a difference in reaching and/or educating consumers about the importance of health and nutrition, especially when it comes to increasing fruits and vegetables in their daily lives,” Galeazzi said. “For us, this decision was easy after the great work [she was] able to achieve in Austin.”

Isaac thanked The Packer and the TIPA and told lunch guests to “eat more fruits and vegetables.”