Feb. 23, 2016, Ottawa – The Canadian Produce Marketing Association will give MPs a lot to chew on at a reception later today.
Celebrity chef Michael Smith will serve up the latest information on the CPMA’s Half Your Plate program. Smith is the program’s ambassador.
The focus of this exclusive reception includes a fruit and veggie cooking demonstration and a discussion of the importance of eating more fruits and vegetables.
The produce industry is significant contributor to Canada’s economy. Including supply chain and induced impacts, it is estimated that the economic footprint of the produce industry in 2013 totalled $11.4 billion in real GDP.
Evidence shows that a balanced diet rich in nutritious fruits and vegetables is a cornerstone of good health, yet still 60 per cent of Canadians over the age of 12 do not get the recommended five or more fruits and vegetables per day.
The increased consumption of fruits and vegetables could also offer potentially significant costs savings to Canada’s health care system by minimizing obesity and chronic disease, which currently account for approximately 67 per cent of health care costs.
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