Fruit and vegetable industries work for all Texans

Today was a big day for Texas agriculture from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley. I had the privilege of speaking to the Houston Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association as leaders of production, distribution and retail came together to focus on nutrition, and making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to more Texans. I appreciate the dedication and leadership of this organization and its members.

Later in the day, I traveled to Weslaco for the groundbreaking of the new Texas A&M University, Kingsville Citrus Center. This facility was made possible by tuition revenue bonds funded by the legislature in the 2006 session. The new center is key to research and training that will enable the Texas citrus industry to continue to have a powerful impact on the Texas economy, our export markets around the globe and on the diets of Texans. Congratulations to industry leaders who led a grassroots effort to achieve this funding, and a special thanks to the legislators for recognizing the value of the citrus industry in Texas.