PMA Conveys Immigration Reform, Farm Bill Concerns With Lawmakers
NEWARK, Del. -- The Produce Marketing Association welcomed Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) to its headquarters here to discuss key legislative issues of concern to the produce industry.
"The primary focus of the visits was to discuss several important issues, including food safety, the obesity crisis and nutrition recommendations, immigration reform, and the Farm Bill," said PMA president Bryan Silbermann. It was the lawmakers' first visits to PMA's headquarters, which Silbermann said "helped them understand the strength of our organization and the critical importance of these issues to public health and our food supply."
PMA additionally discussed the partnership with Scholastic, Inc. in a four-year, math-based program designed to encourage produce as the food of choice among third- and fourth-graders. "We want to work with educators and parents to build healthy habits early so that these children become lifelong consumers," said Kathy Means, PMA's v.p./government relations.
Means noted that as a result of the meetings, "it is clear that our opinions and concerns are actually more similar than different. This alone has set the stage for continued discussion with our representatives on these important matters."
Future discussions are planned to further the dialogue and interaction between Delaware's legislators and the association.
"We encourage each of our members to build these kinds of relationships with their legislators as well," said Means. "Congress needs to hear about the issues that are important to our industry, and what better way than for members to have a one-on-one discussion that allows legislators to see their businesses?"
"The primary focus of the visits was to discuss several important issues, including food safety, the obesity crisis and nutrition recommendations, immigration reform, and the Farm Bill," said PMA president Bryan Silbermann. It was the lawmakers' first visits to PMA's headquarters, which Silbermann said "helped them understand the strength of our organization and the critical importance of these issues to public health and our food supply."
PMA additionally discussed the partnership with Scholastic, Inc. in a four-year, math-based program designed to encourage produce as the food of choice among third- and fourth-graders. "We want to work with educators and parents to build healthy habits early so that these children become lifelong consumers," said Kathy Means, PMA's v.p./government relations.
Means noted that as a result of the meetings, "it is clear that our opinions and concerns are actually more similar than different. This alone has set the stage for continued discussion with our representatives on these important matters."
Future discussions are planned to further the dialogue and interaction between Delaware's legislators and the association.
"We encourage each of our members to build these kinds of relationships with their legislators as well," said Means. "Congress needs to hear about the issues that are important to our industry, and what better way than for members to have a one-on-one discussion that allows legislators to see their businesses?"