Remarks by AIT Director Stephen M. Young AIT, Formosa Cancer Foundation "5-7-9" Press Conference

OT0908E | Date: 2009-04-03

Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang, Chairman Yen, distinguished guests of all ages, and members of the media.

It's good to be here with you all today to launch the 2009 "5-7-9" program.  The opening exercises were a nice warm-up.  Maybe after the program we can climb to the top of the 101 building together. 

"5-7-9" is a program that benefits everyone involved.  This partnership between the AIT Agricultural Trade Office and the Formosa Cancer Foundation is supported by many cooperators including 12 agricultural producer associations, the Wellcome Supermarket Chain, and new this year - the state of Montana's Asia Pacific Trade Office. 

The "5-7-9" program is also a partnership between elementary school children throughout Taiwan and their families.  Recognizing the strong influence that family members can have on one another, the program is designed around education, and sustainable healthy eating practices.  

On that note, I would like to commend the Formosa Cancer Foundation for designing such a creative and interactive nutrition program.  Using funding from the USDA and U.S. agricultural producer associations, FCF will continue training dieticians and developing state of the art nutrition curriculum.  They will also continue their in-school nutrition seminars which reached 78,000 students and their families in 2007 and 120,000 in 2008.  With such a strong track record, we are confident in the success of the 2009 "5-7-9" program. 

A healthy daily diet that includes daily servings of fruit and vegetables is a widely recognized way to maintain good health and prevent disease.   It is my pleasure to be here today to speak in support of this great program.  I look forward to an even more successful and expanded "5-7-9" effort in 2009!