WASHINGTON, D.C. - With this year’s Washington Conference just a month away, members from across the entire produce industry are coming together to ensure their voice is heard by government officials.

Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of United Fresh, joined me for a brief interview on what attendees can expect to see and hear at Capitol Hill. Listen to our interview above, or keep reading for a few brief snippets from our conversation.

“All of our attendees who come this year will be meeting with different members of Congress to talk about the importance of getting more fresh fruits and vegetables to our kids,” Stenzel tells me. “It’s a chance for the industry to present a collective voice to Congress, whether it’s nutrition policy, immigration reform, talking more about food safety and the coming rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act – it’s really a chance for us to deliver our messages to Capitol Hill.”

The Washington Conference, now in its 20th year, will bring together 500 different industry leaders, from growers to wholesalers to retailers and foodservice companies, to work together on common issues that our industry faces today.

Keynote speakers at the Washington Conference will include Congressman David Valadao from California, who authored a bill to help drought conditions in the state, and Congressman Tim Ryan from Ohio, who has helped get more salad bars in schools.  

“We have over 200 individual meetings with members of Congress, so it’s really a great exchange between making government alive for our industry and having our industry deliver our messages to government,” Stenzel said.

The Washington Conference will take place on September 28-30. If you haven’t registered yet, you may do so by clicking the link below.

Register Here

For more on the Washington Conference, check out our interview with Tom Stenzel and stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.

United Fresh