Gilles Vignaud, president of French interprofessional organisation Interfel, attended the “one fruit for the holidays” event held yesterday in Ocquerre, located in the Ile-de-France region. Also present were Michel Barnier, minister of agriculture and fisheries, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, minister of health, youth affairs, sport and associations, and Jean-François Copé, mayor of nearby town Meaux, in addition to the presidents of various fruit and vegetable federations.
As part of the “one fruit for the holidays” initiative, from July 2008, children visiting holiday centres, day centres or scout camps have been able to enjoy activities specifically organised around the pleasure of consuming fruit, with a particular emphasis on seasonal fruits and local production in order to reduce any environmental impact.
Gilles Vignaud declared his delight at such positive moves to enable the young and disadvantaged to consume more fresh fruit and vegetables. “The presence of so many players from the sector illustrates the high level of engagement in this project,” he said, “and I am proud of the leading role that the sector has taken.”
Mr Vignaud also described as a “great opportunity” the decision of the European Commission to put in place a fruit and vegetable distribution programme at the European level. He said that the task of the sector was not only to promote public health, but also to preserve rural jobs and to take care of the countryside.
