Congressmen host "Spinach Is Back" salad bar on capitol hill.

In November Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) hosted a "Spinach Is Back" Congressional luncheon with a number of Administration and public health officials to raise awareness that fresh, safe spinach has returned to store shelves, and is an important part of a healthy diet. Joining the Congressmen at the event were U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and his wife Stephanie, Food and Drug Administration Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Dr. Robert Brackett, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), House Agriculture Appropriation Subcommittee Chairman Henry Bonilla (R-TX), and ranking Agriculture Appropriation Subcommittee member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).

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According to his staff, Rep. Farr came up with the idea of a "Spinach Is Back" salad bar during one of his many recent trips to the Salinas Valley to meet with growers and processors in his district. "Despite the fact that authorities agree it is safe to eat fresh spinach, there has been less fanfare associated with spinach's return to grocers' shelves than there was about its voluntary recall in September. We intend to change that," Farr said. In remarks at the lunch, Secretary Johanns and FDA's Dr. Brackett spoke to reporters and more than 300 guests reaffirming that the E. coli scare was over and emphasizing the healthfulness of spinach. They enjoyed making their own gourmet spinach salads topped with fresh mushrooms as a way to let consumers know there is no longer concern about consuming the popular leafy vegetable.

In conjunction with Rep. Farr, United Fresh Produce Association, the American Mushroom Institute, and the United Egg Producers helped coordinate the spinach salad bar which was held in the hearing room of the House Committee on Agriculture. Rep. Farr's Congressional district includes the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay area, home of several AMI grower and associate members.