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# Statement from Tom Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/united_fresh_produce_association_0104160707/
- Published: 2016-01-04T20:06:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:51:14.000Z
- Description: United Fresh Produce Association president Tom Stenzel says a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study shows students choose healthier meals because more fruits and vegetables are available, and urges Congress to keep rather than roll back the standards.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Shopping, #vivvo-import

**NEWS RELEASE** 

**For Immediate Release, January 4, 2016**

***Contact:*** Mary Coppola  
[mcoppola@unitedfresh.org](mailto:mcoppola@unitedfresh.org)  
202-303-3425

**Statement from Tom Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association** 
**On the release of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Study “The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Improved the Nutritional Quality of the Meals Selected by Students and** 
**Did Not Reduce School Lunch Participation Rates.”**

“This study shows that students are choosing healthier meals largely because of the increased availability and variety of fruits and vegetables in school meals. These results reinforces the need to continue, not roll back, the good work going on in schools across the country which includes offering plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to the more than 30 million kids who rely on school meals every day. Healthy school meals help children ‘make half their plate fruits and vegetables.’ I urge Congress to maintain the strong fruit and vegetable standards in school meals as they work to reauthorize the child nutrition programs.”

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Founded in 1904, the **United Fresh Produce Association** brings together companies across every segment of the fresh produce supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. We empower industry leaders to shape sound government policy. We deliver the resources and expertise companies need to succeed in managing complex business and technical issues. We provide the training and development individuals need to advance their careers in produce. Through these endeavors, we unite our industry with a common purpose – to build long-term value for our members and grow produce consumption.