The article we ran, entitled Pilot Project On Vending-Machine Produce Shows Promise In New Channel Of Sales, was a follow-up on one entitled, Dole Introduces Unique Vending Machine Concept, and our coverage of this area prompted this nice letter:
As a state Fruit & Vegetable Nutrition Coordinator, I was pleased to see the great article you sent out yesterday.
As a public health professional whose role is to create environmental changes that make it easier to access and enjoy fruits and vegetables, seeing this produce and vending article gave me great hope about what the produce industry can achieve that will also have a great public health impact.
I enjoy getting your newsletter.
— Diane R. Beth, MS, RD, LDN
Nutrition Manager/NC Fruit & Vegetable Nutrition Coordinator Physical Activity & Nutrition Branch NCDHHS/Division of Public Health
Raleigh, North Carolina
We appreciate Diane Beth’s kind words and those of the many readers we often hear from in the public health community.
A while back, we ran a piece entitled, Pundit’s Pulse Of The Industry: California Department of Public Health’s Sue Foerster, that was fascinating in its portrait of the changing priorities of public health authorities. Sue had been one of the founders of the 5-a-Day program back in California and, although she remained supportive as it transitioned to the Fruits & Veggies — More Matters program, it also was clear that the old system in which each state had a 5-a-Day coordinator was giving way to a new system in which Fruits & Veggies — More Matters would be one of several initiatives that would be promoted on the state level.
Still, we like Diane Beth’s self-description: “As a public health professional whose role is to create environmental changes that make it easier to access and enjoy fruits and vegetables…”
What a great description. What a great job.
Many thanks to Diane Beth for her letter.
