During the 2016/17 school year, the EU brought the consumption of fruit and vegetables to more than 12.2 million children in 79,000 schools, through its fruit and vegetable consumption program. Along the same lines of promoting a healthy diet among the European child population, more than 18 million schoolchildren participated in their milk consumption program. Thanks to both initiatives, more than 74,000 tons of fruit and vegetables and more than 285,000 tons of dairy products were distributed to children between the ages of 6 and 10 years.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina, highlighted the full support of her Department for the renewal of the Alimentaria 2018 model, which implies more integration, greater openness to the outside world and more innovation. García Tejerina made these statements on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the presentation of the International Food, Beverage & Food Service Exhibition, held on February 28th at MAPAMA headquarters. A fair whose success, as the minister has indicated, is demonstrated by its more than 4,500 exhibiting companies from 70 countries, the participation of some 150,000 professionals (30% are international) and the nearly 12,500 business meetings scheduled.

A little less than two months before its celebration, on March 6th, the Association "5 a day" prepares for its General Assembly of Members and Professional Conference. The Annual General Membership Assembly, which this year celebrates its 20th edition and is held in the auditorium of the Mercamadrid Administrative Center, is the most important event of "5 a day", which has already been consolidated as a meeting point between the partners of this Association.