Fruit Gets Boost

Fruit Gets Boost. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Last weeks announcement of the new dietary guidelines has some ag producers worried but not fruit growers. The new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on balancing calories with physical activity, and encourage Americans to consume more healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood, and to consume less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and refined grains. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

SEBELIUS: Overall, they are about controlling a calorie intake, increasing the calories you burn by moving more and sitting less, eating more fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and cutting down on sodium and sugar and saturated fats.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack echoed those remarks.

VILSACK: Well, I think essentially what we're suggesting is that Americans need, first and foremost, to have proper balance in what they consume, which means that there needs to be a greater emphasis on fruits and vegetables than there has been in the past.

One of the guidelines suggests making half your plate fruits and vegetables so this should be an opportune time for northwest fruit growers to really be pushing their products. I for one enjoy a mid-day snack of fresh pears, apples and more northwest fruit.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.