The USDA, the National Football League and the National Dairy Council (NDC) teamed up today for a event in New York City to promote their joint Fuel Up to Play 60 child nutrition campaign.

Since October, the NFL and NDC have made a major effort to get children to be more active in their daily lives, specifically promoting a 60 minute a day exercise program every child in America. Play 60 is already active in more than 58,000 public schools, 60% of the nation’s 96,000 public schools. The program empowers children in grades 4-10 to “fuel-up” with nutrition-rich foods such low-fat dairy products, fruits, and vegetables so they have energy necessary to play for 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Today’s event was held at Central Park East Middle School in Manhattan to formalize the partnership between the USDA, NFL, and the NDC. Secretary Vilsack, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Dairy Management, Inc. CEO Thomas Gallagher, former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, and many others were in attendance.

Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro Maurice Jones-Drew headlined the event, along with other NFL players including the New York Giants tight end Kevin Boss, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall and Chicago Bears guard Roberto Garza. The event allowed students and school officials to practice exercise and identify healthy eating habits and nutritious food choices with visiting officials and NFL players.

Childhood obesity is one of the greatest public health crises facing the United States and the USDA is making every effort to make sure that today’s children are not the first American generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Programs like Fuel Up to Play 60 can be extremely beneficial in children’s lives and directly impact their future. This program empowers youth in this country to have a voice in changing their eating and exercise habits. Efforts like this show how the government and private sector can work together successfully to solve real problems

The first of four jobs forums in Alaska, sponsored by the USDA Farm Service Agency and Rural Development attracted an audience of about 80 on Thursday.  Participants turned out in Fairbanks to testify about job creation, braving temperatures of -30.

Joining Rural Development State Director Jim Nordlund and Farm Service Agency Executive Director Danny Consenstein at the Fairbanks forum were U.S. Senator Mark Begich; Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins; Fairbanks Economic Development Director Jim Dobson; Jerry Isaac, President of the Tanana Chiefs Conference and University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rodgers.

Nordlund and Consenstein told the group that the Alaska meetings, and those being held across the Nation, are a direct follow up to a jobs summit held by President Obama in December, and that a report of the Alaska meetings, and the other meetings, will be provided to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for presentation to the President in February.  The jobs forum included sessions designed to explore pillars of job creation, as outlined by the Secretary.

“We had more than 80 people show up on a frigid (-30) Thursday afternoon” said Nordlund.  “The jobs ideas were constructive, genuine and heartfelt. I’m sure the President and the Congress will welcome these proposals to foster our economic recovery.”  Consenstein said:  “Alaska’s rural areas have unique challenges.  Alaskans from the Interior had great ideas about how broad band, renewable energy and food systems strategies can create much-needed jobs in the region.”

At the start of the forum, it was announced that USDA has obligated $49 million in rural water grant funds to improve sanitation in rural communities and provide jobs to rural residents.  Additional forums will be held in Kotzebue, Juneau and Anchorage.

Alaska Rural Development State Director Jim Nordlund (at podium) speaks during a USDA-Sponsored Jobs Forum in Fairbanks

To learn more, go to the Rural Development and FSA Job Roundtables Schedule, and the News Release, “USDA to Host Roundtables on Jobs, Economic Growth”

By Wayne Maloney, Office of Communications

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is applying the final touches on the Be Food Safe exhibit (booth #1704) for the NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 16 – 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The event is free to the public.

FSIS’ exhibit will highlight USDA’s “Be Food Safe” Campaign, built around the four food safety messages: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.  It teaches consumers about the importance of safe food handling, and the prevention of foodborne illness to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy.

Booth visitors will also learn about Ask Karen, the FSIS virtual representative, the Meat and Poultry Hotline, Thermy™, Is It Done Yet?, and Todo Cuenta, an outreach program for Spanish speaking communities.

The exhibit’s hands-on demonstrations will show consumers how to calibrate a food thermometer, the importance of hand washing, and what bacteria look like under the lens of a high-powered microscope.

To learn more about food safety, visit our Website and follow us on Twitter. If you’re in D.C. this weekend, drop by our booth and say Hi!