Europe working to expand free f/v distribution to kids

Lars Hoelgaard, Deputy Director General for Agriculture, European Commission, Brussel, is joined by Saida Barnat, Aprifel in France, Robert Pederson, Danish Cancer Society, and Lorelei DiSogra, United Fresh Produce Association.

Photo: United Fresh Produce Association.

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Lorelei DiSogra's participation in the May 27 to May 30 Fruit and Vegetable Summit in Paris was an example of international "cross-fertilization" of good nutrition policy. Both the U.S. and the European Union are expanding programs to give away free fruits and vegetables to school children. Lorelei passed on this EU news item in a recent email:

July 8 - The European Commission today proposed to establish a European Union-wide scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to school children. European funds worth €90 million every year would pay for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools, and this money would be matched by national funds in those Member States which chose to make use of the programme. This is the latest stage in the Commission's efforts to improve health and nutrition, as set out in the 'Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity and related health issues'. The School Fruit Scheme aims to encourage good eating habits in young people, which studies show tend to be carried on into later life. Besides providing free fruit and vegetables, the scheme would require participating Member States to set up national strategies including educational and awareness-raising initiatives and the sharing of best practice. An estimated 22 million children in the EU are overweight. More than 5 million these are obese and this figure is expected to rise by 400,000 every year. Improved nutrition can play an important part in combating this problem. The proposal will now be sent to the Council and European Parliament.

TK: Policy changes of this magnitude don't just happen, The U.S. fruit and vegetable program and now the European initiative can be credited to a lot of work by many committed individuals and associations - and politicians and policy makers willing to consider a new way.