DNO Produce Attends White House Challenge to End Hunger & Build Healthy Communities

WASHINGTON, DC- DNO Produce's COO & President Alex DiNovo was selected to represent the produce industry at the White House on March 24th, 2023. DiNovo represented the International Fresh Produce Foundation (IFPA) and the IFPA’s Foundation for Fresh Produce at the White House’s Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities kickoff event.  

This Challenge was held as a continuation of the work started at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health this past September, and the government intends to create additional buzz and commitment surrounding this mission. Around 30 attendees participated in the event, ranging from nonprofits and foundations to large multinational corporations.  

The challenge aims to end hunger, increase physical activity, and reduce diet-related diseases, while minimizing disparities by 2030. During the event, the White House encouraged commitments from both public and private sectors to support this critical mission. 

The International Fresh Produce Association’s nonprofit organization, Foundation for Fresh Produce (recently merged with the Produce for a Better Health Foundation), of which DiNovo is chair-elect, committed to three significant initiatives. These include the launch of a public database called Produce in the Public Interest to house and disseminate research about fruit and vegetable consumption; research and share culturally informed consumer friendly resources to improve nutrition literacy; and facilitate a public-private partnership with Partnership for a Healthier America, Indianapolis and Denver to double residents’ consumption of fruits and vegetables by 2030. 

DNO Produce will soon be announcing a commitment of their own, with nonprofit partner Pilot Light. The commitment takes DNO’s work to the next level through private partnership and cross-sector collaborations that enhance implementation for USDA nutrition programs. The commitment also compliments the work being done by the foundation, ensuring children not only have access to fresh produce on a daily basis, but have the tools and information they need to increase their consumption, changing the trajectory of their health and well being.            

Panelists and speakers included notable names such as Ambassador Susan Rice, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Chef Jose Andres, and Congressman McGovern. Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated in one of the panel discussions, "We want to create a wellness care system, not an illness care system."  DNO, the IFPA, and the White House share a common goal of ensuring people in underserved communities have access to nutritious foods, specifically fresh produce. We are excited to be actively taking a role in policy decisions to achieve this common goal. 

The White House Challenge was an excellent opportunity for public and private sectors to come together to tackle issues around hunger, physical activity, and diet-related diseases. It was an honor to advocate for our shared mission of transforming people’s health and well-being. We were honored to attend as representatives of the produce industry, and we are optimistic that this event’s commitments will make a significant impact and bring about positive change for the American population. 

Hear from Alex in the video below about his takeaways from the Kickoff event.