[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING MARCH AS NATIONAL FROZEN FOOD MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2014

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of one 
of Georgia's great schools and my alma mater, the University of 
Georgia, UGA, for its recent groundbreaking research on the nutritional 
value of frozen fruits and vegetables. March is frozen food month, and 
this study by UGA conclusively demonstrates the nutritional value of 
frozen fruits and vegetables and will help families make smart, 
informed decisions on how to eat in an affordable, healthy way.
  The University of Georgia, in partnership with the Frozen Food 
Foundation, conducted a unique study comparing the nutrient content of 
commonly purchased frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables. This study 
mimicked consumer purchasing and storage habits for a variety of fruits 
and vegetables and the results revealed that frozen fruits and 
vegetables are nutritionally equal to, and in many cases superior to 
their fresh counterparts.
  Research such as this provides insight into the value of frozen 
fruits and vegetables. UGA found that at-home storage of fresh fruits 
and vegetables can lead to significant nutrient loss but with frozen 
fruits and vegetables, consumers receive the nutritional benefit of 
produce that is harvested and then frozen at peak ripeness. Freezing is 
a natural pause button that locks-in nutrition.
  As families look for easy-to-prepare, affordable ways to improve 
their diet, they can reach for frozen fruits and vegetables and, 
reaffirmed by this UGA research, they can know they are receiving the 
same nutritional benefits as fresh products.
  Mr. Speaker, in celebration of National Frozen Food Month, I wish to 
applaud UGA and frozen food makers for their role in providing American 
families with important facts about increasing nutrients to support 
good health. I am proud to acknowledge research done in Georgia that 
allows families to make informed decisions about the nutritional 
benefits of the fruits and vegetables they consume.

                          ____________________