“MORE MATTERS” BRAND TO REPLACE 5 A DAY

At its spring board meeting in San Francisco March 31, the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) unveiled the new More Matters brand for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption. The fresh mark will begin showing up on packaging and in-store displays next year.

PBH created the new brand after the USDA's new dietary guidance, released in 2005, made "5 A Day" obsolete. Considerable consumer research was conducted during development of the More Matters message, which primarily targets moms.

"The new brand received high marks from our target consumers, regardless of ethnicity, age, education or income," said Ray Gilmer, FFVA director of public affairs and a member of the PBH Executive Committee. "I am genuinely excited about the potential for driving fruit and vegetable consumption using the More Matters brand."

 

VEGETABLES INHIBIT CANCER GROWTH

Chemicals in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, watercress, cabbage and cauliflower, may help stop human prostate cancer cells from growing in mice. A new study says they could be affecting the expression of proteins.

The mice were grafted with human prostate tumors and orally administered a small amount of PEITC daily. After 31 days of treatment, the average tumor volume in the control group that did not receive PEITC was 1.9 times higher than that of the treatment group.

Clinical trials are planned.

-Source: Medical News Today

 

FFVA REMAINS HOPEFUL FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM

Although the U.S. Senate left for the spring recess without resolving difficulties in passing immigration reform, FFVA is hopeful passage may still be possible once lawmakers return.

FFVA leaders met with Senator Mel Martinez of Florida yesterday and learned that the senator believes the votes for passage are there. Senator Martinez encouraged FFVA to work with House members as well, since once Senate passage occurs, a final, compromise version of the legislation will be determined in Conference Committee.

After appearing to make solid progress on reform Thursday (April 6), the Senate hit a procedural stumbling block and was not able to complete its version of a bill before the recess.

 

In a test vote Friday, the bill fell 22 votes short of the 60 needed to overcome procedural hurdles and move forward. Democrats had refused Thursday evening to allow votes on Republican amendments they said would lead to the bill’s demise.

 

The bill would have allowed those illegal immigrants who had been in the U.S. for five years to apply for citizenship once certain conditions had been met. The measure would also have allowed those in the country for more than two years to apply for a work visa.

"FFVA will use the recess to let our lawmakers know what we need," said FFVA President Mike Stuart. "When they return in two weeks, we hope they will understand the importance of this legislation." FFVA has encouraged lawmakers to pass reforms that contain a workable H-2A guest worker program that will allow agricultural producers access to a legal workforce.

USDA STUDY SAYS ASYMPTOMATIC FRUIT WON’T SPREAD CANKER

In an evaluation published in the April 6 Federal Register, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) concluded that asymptomatic fruit is an unlikely pathway for the further spread of citrus canker.

This finding applies to commercially produced citrus fruit that has been treated with disinfectant dips and subjected to other mitigations. It says that even if viable disease-producing organisms were present, it is highly unlikely that the necessary environmental and physiological conditions for disease development would be present at the precise time infected citrus was placed in close proximity to a citrus tree.

To submit written comments on the evaluation, mail an original and three copies before June 5 to Docket No. APHIS- 2006-0045 Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Click here for additional information and email instructions.

 

RETIRED 4-H AGENT RECEIVES AWARD

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that Nettie Ruth Brown, a retired 4-H extension agent, has received the 2006 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award. Bronson and James Harold Thompson, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, presented the award to Brown at the ninth Annual 4-H Reception and Auction in Tallahassee.

"Ms. Brown represents the highest standard of community leadership through her years of dedicated service to the Florida youth," Bronson said.

Brown is also a charter inductee into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame which was established in 4-H's centennial year of 2002. She has established and endowed through the Florida 4-H Foundation the Nettie Ruth Brown Scholarship Award presented each year at 4-H State Congress.

Brown began her 4-H career in Tennessee as a Home Demonstration Agent but returned to St. Johns County in 1960 to assume responsibilities for the Home Economics and girls 4-H program. She has demonstrated her dedication to Florida youth by developing new programs and elevating the 4-H program to prominence and respect within the county. She has helped organize and charter the State of Florida 4-H Agents Association, and has chaired seminars and exhibits for the National 4-H Association meetings. She also served as chairwoman of the Blood Bank Center of St. Johns County, president of St. Augustine Sister Cities Association, president of the Executive Council for the Friends of St. Johns County Library, and is an active Garden Club member. Though she officially retired from 4-H in 1985, she remains an active supporter of Extension programs and the St. Johns County community.

Founded in 1902, 4-H is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The organization is comprised of more than 280,000 of Florida's rural, suburban and urban youth ages 5-18. 4-H is active in all 67 counties. Programs are open to all persons regardless of race, color, age, sex, handicap or national origin.

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services