``California Latino 5 a Day'' Campaign Holds Public Policy Forum to Take Action to Reverse Latino Health Epidemic in Fresno.

FRESNO, Calif. -- Community Leaders, Public Health Advocates and Elected Officials to Determine Local Solutions to Ensure Access to Fresh, Affordable Fruits and Vegetables

To take action against the startling health risks facing the local Latino community, and in commemoration of the second annual Latino Health Awareness Month in California, members of the "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign" in Fresno brought together community leaders, public health advocates and elected officials for a policy forum to determine what can be done locally to promote access to fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables. Members of the forum included: Tony Oliveira, officer of the Kings County Board of Supervisors; Gloria Pecina of WIC Reedley; Sandy Beal of the Tulare County Food Link; Lupita Lomeli of Univision; Dr. Edward Moreno of the Fresno County Health Department; Debbie Jacobson, president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau; and Eustolia Ruiz of the "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign." The participants agreed to work collectively to make access to fruits and vegetables a priority in the Fresno community.

One outcome of the forum was the development of a unique partnership between the "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign" and Health Net of California. "Latino 5 a Day" will provide training and educational and resource materials to Health Net. Health Net will integrate the "Latino 5 a Day" messages into their health and nutrition education classes, in member newsletter articles, and during relevant coalition and planning meetings. As a health care company, Health Net will be instrumental in spreading the "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign's" message to low-income Latinos in California.

Among California Latinos, heart disease, cancer, stroke and type-2 diabetes account for nearly 60 percent of all deaths. In addition, 43 percent of California Latino adults are overweight and 25 percent are obese. Research shows that eating 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of serious health problems and chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type-2 diabetes, obesity and certain types of cancer. However, fresh fruits and vegetables are often more expensive and harder to find in rural communities and in the inner cities, making it difficult for California's Latino community to get the recommended 5 to 9 servings per day.

During the "Breaking the Barriers" forum in Fresno, participants discussed the health status of California's Latino community and the specific access issues in Fresno.

Forum participants overwhelmingly agreed that now is the time for Fresno to take action against this alarming health epidemic. In doing so, they identified ways community leaders can partner with grocery stores and farmers' markets in Fresno to ensure quality, low-cost fruits and vegetables are available, as well as ways to encourage workplaces to provide access to affordable fruits and vegetables for employees.

"The Latino community in Fresno is facing a health crisis resulting in part from limited access to fruits and vegetables that are essential to good health," said Mark Martin, manager of the "Latino 5 a Day Campaign" and policy forum participant. "Today's forum was a critical first step to identifying barriers to eating fruits and vegetables and creating concrete, affordable solutions that can be implemented at both the local and state levels."

"Latino Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to empower Fresno Latinos to eat healthier and incorporate more fruits and vegetables in their diets," said Eustolia Ruiz, "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign." "However, as community leaders, we need to ensure that we not only encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables, but that we also provide greater access to affordable, quality produce. By working together with policy makers and public health officials, we are confronting the issue head on and creating environmental changes to improve the health of Fresno's Latinos."

Two additional communities in California, including San Diego and the Inland Empire, will join Fresno in commemorating Latino Health Awareness Month by holding policy forums in their communities. Solutions and recommendations from these forums will be presented to the California Legislature's Latino Caucus in Sacramento later this summer. In addition, the "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign" is preparing an issue brief on access to fruits and vegetables and barriers to preventive healthcare among California's Latino community titled "Access to preventive healthcare and nutrition among California's Latino population." Copies of the brief will be made available in mid-August 2004.

The "California Latino 5 a Day Campaign," which is part of the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families, is a public health initiative led by the California Department of Health Services. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program, the Network urges low-income Latino families to consume the recommended 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables by taking advantage of federal nutrition assistance programs. It also encourages families to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day for adults and 60 minutes every day for children.

The Campaign also works with communities throughout California to create environments where these behaviors are socially supported and easy to do. The "5 a Day" and physical activity objectives are designed to reduce the risks of chronic diseases, especially cancer, heart disease, type-2 diabetes and obesity. For more information, please call 1-888-EAT-FIVE or visit www.ca5aday.com.