By Jamie Martin
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has submitted updated policy recommendations to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission as part of ongoing efforts to reduce diet-related diseases and enhance public health. These 10 new proposals, shared with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vince Haley, and the MAHA Commission, stress the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption as a core strategy in national health policy.
Among the top recommendations, IFPA advocates for the inclusion of produce prescriptions within federal healthcare programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. This approach aims to promote diet-related disease prevention and reduce healthcare costs. IFPA also urges the FDA to enhance food labeling, requiring transparent labeling for products claiming fruit and vegetable content to allow consumers to make informed choices.
In addition, IFPA recommends expanding financial incentives for fruit and vegetable purchases, such as making fresh produce eligible for HSAs and FSAs and offering federal tax credits. They also support extending the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) to all elementary, middle, and high schools, helping children develop healthy eating habits from an early age.
Other proposals include modernizing USDA procurement strategies, increasing SNAP incentives for produce purchases, and strengthening EPA’s crop protection measures for fresh produce growers. IFPA also calls for more investment in specialty crop research and regenerative agriculture practices to ensure a sustainable food supply.
Photo Credit: istock-elenathewise
Categories: National