USDA listening sessions

Frozen Food Digest, Oct, 2008

This summer and early fall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing opportunities for the public to offer recommendations for improving the Child Nutrition and Women, Infant, and Children (WlC) programs. USDA is sponsoring a series of regional listening sessions in 2008 in the following cities:

* Boston--June 10

* Austin--July 15

* San Francisco--August 6

* Baltimore--August 6

* Atlanta--August 20

* Chicago--September 10

* Denver--September 11

Representatives from the frozen food industry are speaking at a number of these urging the USDA's continued inclusion and increased use of frozen foods in the child nutrition programs. Through these representatives, USDA officials are being reminded of the nutritional, economic, convenience, and safety benefits offered by frozen foods and how they can contribute to the success of these federal programs.

These listening sessions and a period of solicited public comments are part of the preparation for the 2009 congress's consideration of reauthorizing the Child Nutrition and WIC programs administered by USDA.