Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing On Produce In School Lunch Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A recent Senate hearing on school lunch programs featured testimony from Phil Muir and a To-Jo’s Bella Blended Meatballs taste test.
Phil Muir, United Fresh former Board member and President and CEO of Muir Copper Canyon Farms in Salt Lake City, pledged support and cooperation to schools as they serve more fresh fruits and vegetables, according to a press release.
“The produce industry is committed and stands ready to support school food service directors in successfully implementing the new fruit and vegetable requirements,” said Muir in his Senate testimony. “There are produce suppliers all over the country who are just as passionate and committed to supporting schools as I am. We all want to provide schools with great quality fresh produce and help student’s increase their consumption.”
Muir told lawmakers that his company provides fresh fruits and vegetables to 52 school districts in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming and serve a total of 450,000 students.
“Phil Muir shared his passion and commitment to working collaboratively with schools to implement the new fruit and vegetable requirements,” said Dr. Lorelei DiSogra, Vice President, Nutrition & Health, United Fresh. ‘His testimony also demonstrated the commitment of everyone in the fresh produce supply chain – growers shippers, fresh-cut processors and produce distributors – to helping schools be successful. We are all committed to increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and improving their health.”
United Fresh also advocated for improving school children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables through a variety of strategies. These initiatives include more healthful standards for school meals, the Smart Snacks in Schools standard, the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program, and the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, according to a press release.
During the hearing, Muir referenced Blendable recipes like To-Jo’s Bella Blended Meatballs as a viable option when looking for ways to increase produce consumption to meet the USDA school nutrition guidelines. Mushroom “blendability” is the simple process of adding fresh, chopped mushrooms to meat so students’ favorite meals can be healthier without losing taste or texture.
Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) arranged for his colleagues to taste test the mushroom meatballs, according to a press release.
“Mushroom blendability is a delicious example of the effective product innovations that are improving school meals for America’s children,” says Dayle Hayes, MS, RD President of School Meals That Rock. “Students eat more vegetables while enjoying healthful versions of their favorite foods. This is win-win-win for kids, school nutrition professionals and agriculture.”
Congress will be reauthorizing child nutrition programs in 2015. This hearing explored how schools are meeting the healthier nutrition standards that are required by the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010.
