PMA president Bryan Silbermann welcomed the introduction last week of the Speciality Crops Competition Act of 2007 as “another significant step by the US Congress to enhance the global competitiveness of US-grown specialty crops”.

Silbermann said: “The components of the Speciality Crops Act will benefit the health of our nation’s schoolchildren through expansion of the fruit and vegetable snack programme. It will also help our industry become more competitive through speciality crop research initiatives administered through USDA agencies.”

PMA endorses the Act, as it believes it will:

• increase access to valuable export markets by enhancing the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops programme, support the Market Access Programme, expand the State Block Grant Programme; and raise the profile for speciality crops within USDA, USTR, and other key federal agencies.

• expand the fruit and vegetable snack programme in schools across the nation and develop new nutrition programmes to assist producers in enhancing their markets.

• direct new investment in research priorities for specialty crops, through the National Research Initiative, Co-operative State Research, Education and Extension Service, and Agriculture Research Service.

• increase research funding, enhance current resources, and authorise and expand programmes to assist in the prevention, detection, and eradication of invasive plant pests and disease.

• improve access to conservation programmes for speciality crops by expanding eligibility and increasing available technical support.

The Speciality Crop Farm Bill Alliance, of which PMA is a member, also endorses the Speciality Crops Competition Act.

For more information about the Speciality Crop Farm Bill Alliance, visit http://www.competitiveagriculture.org

DOING IT FOR THE KIDS

The Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) in the US has announced the launch of its Campaign for Children’s Health, a five-year programme aimed at encouraging mothers to get their youngsters eating more fruits and vegetables.

The new scheme, which is fully supported by PMA, was formally rolled out at PBH’s spring board meeting, held in San Francisco.

It is estimated that one third of children and teens in the US are overweight or obese. These children typically suffer from low self-esteem, sleep apnea, early onset diabetes and heart attacks, as well as other diseases at younger and younger ages.

The Campaign for Children’s Health has therefore been designed as a call to arms to remind the American public of the importance of eating fruit and vegetables. The PHB’s goal is to raise $3 million (£1.49m) in funding to be used for programmes to provide know-how, resources and motivation that will make increased fruit and vegetable consumption a reality.

One part of the programme is being aided by a significant donation from PMA, to implement an in-school programme to be executed by educational media company Scholastic Inc.

This four-year scheme aims to reach more than 300,000 kids and 450,000 parents in its first year alone, and to expand its audience over the next three years. The programme will promote fruit and vegetable consumption and educate children about safe food handling practices.