Deputy Agriculture Secretary to Discuss Administration's Commitment to Nutrition during Keynote Address at 2009 ANSA-NANASP Conference

Kathleen Merrigan, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will deliver the keynote address at the 2009 joint conference of the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies (ANSA) and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP) on Thursday, June 25th, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia.

(PRWEB) June 11, 2009 -- Dr. Merrigan will discuss President Obama's commitment to improving the nation's health and making a sustainable, safe and nutritious food supply a pillar of his goals for USDA. She will review the President's concern about the nutrition of America's children and the effect of establishing healthy eating patterns in childhood on long-term health and chronic disease. In a broad view of the department's work, she will also look at the scope of the USDA programs that directly and indirectly affect elderly and fragile populations.

"We are excited to host Deputy Secretary Merrigan at our conference in Atlanta," said Christine A. Poward, Executive Director of ANSA. "Her presence underscores the Administration's commitment to ensuring everyone who struggles daily with hunger and undernutrition has access to appropriate and nutritious food, whether they are children, elderly or living with any number of critical or chronic conditions."

The 2009 ANSA-NANASP Conference, "Connecting the Worlds of Health and Nutrition," is scheduled for June 24-26 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center and is a first-time collaboration of two leading national organizations committed to improving the nutritional status of elderly and chronically ill populations across the United States.

For additional information, contact:

Mathew Gulick

(p) 202-828-7707 x12

(f) 202-828-7750

Company History

ANSA is the leading international association of food and nutrition services providers. We strengthen the capacity of our members, advocate for public policies that promote the impact of good nutrition on health, and expand resources for the field.

NANASP is a national membership organization for persons across the country working to provide older adults healthful food and nutrition through community-based services. NANASP's mission is to strengthen through advocacy and education those who help older Americans. NANASP's vision is to reshape the future of nutrition and healthy aging.

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