IFPA chief executive champions policies that increase fruit and vegetable consumption while supporting domestic growers
In verbal testimony delivered to the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) chief executive Cathy Burns called on Congress to take ”bold, evidence-based action” to increase Americans’ consumption of US-grown fruits and vegetables.
Burns described it as both a public health imperative and a ”powerful economic opportunity” for US farmers.
In her remarks, she emphasised that despite overwhelming scientific consensus on the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, 90 per cent of Americans still do not eat the recommended amount, contributing to rising rates of chronic disease and escalating health care costs.
“The science is clear: eating more fruits and vegetables is one of the most effective ways to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health care costs,” said Burns. “Yet today, nine out of ten Americans fall short. We can – and must – do better.”
She underscored that increasing fresh produce consumption is not only about nutrition and access to healthful food, but also about strengthening domestic markets and economic resilience for US growers, who support more than 2mn American jobs and contribute more than US$335bn to the national economy.
“When we strengthen produce consumption, we strengthen American farmers,” Burns continued. “This is a chance to improve public health while creating economic opportunity across rural communities.”
Congress already has powerful tools to help make fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable for families, particularly through federal nutrition programmes, she noted.
Burns urged lawmakers to fully leverage these programmes to close the consumption gap.
Specifically, she called on Congress to continue to fully fund the WIC fruit and vegetable benefit and expand online redemption; strengthen produce incentives within SNAP; ensure school meals include a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables; expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to reach more elementary schools; and modernise USDA procurement to reflect nutritional value – not just lowest cost – and increase access to US-grown produce.
Burns also pointed to the potential of health-focused policies, including embedding produce prescriptions as a standard benefit across federal health programmes and allowing Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts to be used for fruits and vegetables.
“These are common-sense solutions that help families eat healthier while reducing long-term health care costs,” she said. “They work – and they deserve broader adoption.”
While boosting demand is critical, Burns emphasised that Congress must also ensure US fruit and vegetable production remains economically viable so growers can meet that demand.
This comes in the wake of growers facing rising input costs, labour shortages, regulatory pressure, and increasing natural disasters.
Indeed, the US has lost more than 230,000 farms over the past two decades.
“America’s produce growers are ready to meet growing demand,” Burns said. “But they cannot do it alone. Strategic investment is essential to keep US fruit and vegetable production competitive and resilient.”
Such continued investments include specialty crop research, technical assistance, risk management, conservation programmes, and a coordinated national approach to produce packaging that balances sustainability, food safety, shelf life, and affordability, she confirmed.
Burns also underscored the importance of a strong, modern food safety system, including sustained funding for FDA’s Human Foods Program, consistent implementation of the traceability rule, and reliable support for state food safety programmes.
“Congress has a vital role to play in ensuring every American has access to fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables,” she said.
“With the right policies, we can improve health outcomes while strengthening US agriculture and rural economies.
”IFPA and our members stand ready to collaborate with Congress bring our policy priorities from the corridors of Congress to the farms and fields of our country,” Burns added.
