This past Saturday, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) participated in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the National Cinco de Mayo Festival® ¡Salud en Cinco de Mayo!, sponsored by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Maru Montero Dance Company. USDA partnered with LULAC, with whom we work on the recruitment of Hispanic professionals, promoting nutrition in the community, and on the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative.
Along with other representatives of the federal government, our Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Ed Avalos, gave welcoming remarks and emphasized a message of cultural heritage and health during this celebration. Sam Kass, White House Chef and Senior Advisor Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives for the First Lady, was also present.
Over a dozen USDA employees spoke with over 600 parents, children, students and professionals that visited our booth. Our Food and Nutrition Service shared information on MiPlato and our federal nutrition assistance programs. Our colleagues from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) provided materials and practical advice on the proper handling of food. We also had the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at hand to speak with visitors about the work they do in ensuring our natural resources are protected such as clean air, clean water, healthy soil, and the abundant wild life in our nation. Our Office of Human Resource Management spoke to students and others interested in working at USDA. We even got to dance at the Zumba® competition in this celebration of culture and family health fair.
United we carried the message of the day to promote access to nutritious meals and a healthy community lifestyle. To the sound of music, we proudly showcased our diversity and our commitment to service as a federal agency. Porque somos uno: We’re one USDA!
