Better Nutrition and Produce Access Key in New Plan
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has submitted updated policy recommendations to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, focusing on strategies to tackle diet-related diseases and improve public health in the U.S. These proposals build on earlier recommendations made this year, aiming to prioritize fruit and vegetable consumption as a cornerstone of national health policy.
In a letter addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House Domestic Policy Council Executive Director Vince Haley, and members of the MAHA Commission, IFPA outlines 10 evidence-based recommendations designed to improve health outcomes.
One of the key suggestions is to embed produce prescriptions as a covered benefit within healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, supporting disease prevention. IFPA also calls for clearer nutrition labeling and proposes expanding financial incentives for purchasing fruits and vegetables, including making fresh produce eligible for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Other recommendations include increasing access to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) in schools, modernizing USDA purchasing strategies to include more fresh produce, and enhancing data collection for federal nutrition programs. Additionally, IFPA urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve crop protection and advocates for more investment in specialty crop research and regenerative agriculture practices.