Fresh Fruits & Vegetables for Young Consumers and Gas Prices Down

 **Product marketers are working to increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption among younger consumers.

At a recent foodservice conference in Monterey, California, producers and shippers persuaded school cafeteria representatives to buy healthier foods.

Kathy Burns, CEO of International Fresh Produce

The association says the goal is to "change the development of children's eating habits" and to "put fruits and vegetables at the center of the plate."

**The Clayton University Rural Mainstree Index for August showed a decline in farmland prices and farm equipment sales.

The Composite Index fell for his fifth straight month, falling from 46 in July to 44 in August.

The farmland price index in August fell to 60 from 66 in July, marking the 23rd straight month of above-neutral growth. The farm equipment sales index fell to 45.9 in August from 56.5 in July.

**Fuel prices also fell for his 10th straight week.

Gasoline prices fell 5.1 cents to $3.86 per gallon last week, while diesel prices fell 6.3 cents to $4.97 per gallon.

The national average gas price is 51.3 cents lower than last month, but 72.2 cents higher than a year ago.

Diesel prices are below $5 a gallon for the first time since March, according to GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan.

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