IFAVA and farmers share goals

POLOKWANE – Farmers are the best friends of those who wish to live a long and healthy life and therefore the mission of IFAVA (International Fruit and Vegetable Alliance) is supported by local vegetable and fruit farmers, says Dries Joubert, chairperson of TAU (Transvaal Agricultural Union) SA North.
The mission of IFAVA  is to encourage efforts to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables globally for better health. According to Joubert he was encouraged by the recent IFAVA Paris summit that was held on 6 June 2008. Here it was decided that, based on scientific evidence, health is possible and it can be achieved by sensible eating habits.
IFAVA was established in Auckland, New Zealand in 2004 when delegates to the International Fruit and Vegetable Symposium pushed for the establishment of a federation where the sharing of information and resources would provide support for the national and regional programs.
Eating more fruit and vegetables has been put forward as a natural health solution to combat the explosion of obesity and the continued high rate of largely preventable chronic diseases. And this is where farmers play a big role.
According to Joubert farmers are the best friends of those who wish to live healthily. Local communities cannot do without farmers, and farmers cannot do without local communities, he said. It was time that consumers and farmers found a way to work closer together.
Lastly Joubert said that parents should be encouraged to buy more fresh fruit and vegetables and they should find fun ways to encourage children to eat less junk food and more health out of nature, namely fresh fruit and vegetables.