Senate Democratic Office
March 2, 2007 CONTACT: Russ Woodward
Senate Democratic Website: www.kysenatedemocrats.com
Senate passes Harper Angel's Farmers Market
Nutrition Program
FRANKFORT - The State Senate passed Senator Denise Harper Angel's Senate Bill 25, which will create the Kentucky Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
The Kentucky Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is designed to enhance nutrition by requiring the program to provide fresh, locally grown produce to low-income seniors and recipients of the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants and children.
The program will bring an exciting collaborative group of public and private entities together to identify funding sources, establish services, develop marketing strategies and establish strategies to introduce fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables into school nutrition programs. The agencies include: Cabinet for Health & Family Services, the Department of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
Harper Angel, D-Louisville, said the mission of this collaborative effort is simple. "Increasing the number of fruits and vegetables in the diet is a win-win for everybody.
According to recent studies Kentucky has one of the highest obesity rates in the country.
"The state is spending a great deal of money dealing with individuals who suffer health problems because of obesity," said Harper Angel. "Common sense tell us that people who eat more vegetables are in better shape and healthier."
Senate Bill 25 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. For more information regarding Senate Bill 23 access the Legislative Research Commission website: www.lrc.ky.gov.
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Note: For a high-res. JPEG photo file of Senator Harper Angel, please log on to www.lrc.state.ky.us/pubinfo/ephoto.htm.