By TOM MARCH | OP-ED

For fresh fruits and vegetables, there has been a recent convergence of trends and preferences that bode well for the industry.

The first is the federal government’s decision to ensure that more fresh fruits and vegetables are consumed in school meal programs, which will expose children who otherwise have limited access to these important foods. The other trend is the locavore — or eating local — movement, which underscores the importance of buying local and eating fresh produce.

But to ensure that fresh fruits and vegetables are available for a population that is increasingly asking for them, we need to have wise public policies in place to help the farmers here in Connecticut and elsewhere who grow these important foods to manage the risks brought on by Mother Nature…