Farm Report intern Karleigh Erramouspe spoke with International Fresh Produce Association Vice President Mollie Van Lieu, who began by explaining the Association’s role. She describes the group as “a trade association representing the full fresh produce supply chain,” covering “fruit and vegetable and fresh-cut floral growers all the way to retailers and food service.” Her comments frame the organization as one that works across every step of the produce industry, from farms to consumer-facing businesses.
She then gives an overview of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement, noting its origins and political context. Van Lieu explains that “the principles of it were started by now Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” and that after he exited the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump, the movement “really became part of the Trump agenda, about ending chronic disease and medical freedom.” This sets the stage for how MAHA intersects with nutrition policy.
When asked about impacts on fruit and vegetable producers, Van Lieu emphasizes both opportunities and gaps. She notes that whenever policymakers focus on diet-related disease, “fruit and vegetables are in a really good position to help solve that,” yet she stresses that current actions are “mixed in terms of the impact” and that there is a need for “more concrete policies that…increase fruit and vegetable consumption.” She points to expanding access in programs like school meals and SNAP, and critiques that simply banning foods “doesn’t guarantee that people are going to then buy fruits and vegetables.”
On consumer transparency and labeling, she discusses FDA’s proposed front-of-package warnings for sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat, and highlights the importance of clarity around produce content in packaged foods. Van Lieu says it should be easy for consumers to see “what is the serving of fruits and vegetables in that package,” especially for products like fruit snacks or items claiming to be “made with real fruits and vegetables.” She argues that such transparency would “go a long way in kind of helping to level the playing field.”
Finally, Van Lieu reflects on the broader health landscape and MAHA’s potential role. She stresses the urgency of addressing diet-related disease, noting that “50% of Americans are diabetic or pre-diabetic” and that heart disease remains the country’s leading cause of death. She welcomes bipartisan interest in nutrition policy but also anticipates debate—particularly as forthcoming dietary guidelines may “end the war on saturated fat” and influence recommendations for dairy and beef. Ultimately, she sees the current moment as a catalyst for “a really great conversation” about nutrition, affordability, and long-term public health.
