mr. chairman. welcome to today's witnesses and congressmen, appreciate your leadership on this issue. probably not the only one who finds the term, sell by a best buy confusing. this confusion leads to a lot of food waste we see in this country. i'm glad were looking at this issue today. american consumers are increasingly less connected to the farm and that's where food comes from. i think a lot of people no longer view food is valuable. when i was growing up, my mom used every part of the animal. so that is no longer the cas food waste has increased. producers have done such a good job of creating an abundant food supply that a lot of folks do not think twice about tossing out food that may not look perfect or is suppressed and the best buy or sell by date is stamped on the box, whatever that means. this is a challenge but i also think also think it presents an opportunity for production in agriculture. many have no problem throwing food away, many americans americans are struggling to

we have mr. jesse fink, the director of mission point and in norwalk, connecticut. mr. john oxford, president and ceo of l and m companies in

fink. mr. poxferroxford, five minutes. >> members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify in today's hearing on food waste. i'm president and ceo of l & m companies based in raleigh, north carolina. founded in 1964, we're a family agriculture business that grows, markets, and distributes fresh produce. our products and our crops include a variety of vegetables, potatoes, onions, melons, apples, pears, and more. in addition to my day job, i'm chairman elect for the produce marketing association, which is the largest trade association representing companies that market fresh fruits and vegetables. pma represented more than 2700 member companies in 45 countries. in the united states, our members from growing, processing, manufacturing, distribution, wholesalings, retail, and food service handle more than 90% of fresh produce sold to consumers. my testimony today comes from inperspective of a grower. dealing with food waste is a complex issue that requires a suite of solutions. w

fink. mr. oxford, five minutes. >> chairman conaway and ranking member peterson and members of the committee i thank you for the testimony to testify today on the food waste. i'm john oxford, president and ceo of l&m companies based in raleigh, north carolina, founded in 1964 we are a family agricultural business that grows markets and distributes fresh produce. our products in our crops include a variety of vegetables, potatoes, onions, melons, apples, pears an more. in addition to my day job, i'm with the marketing association that market fresh fruits and vegetables. pma represents more than 2700 member companies in 45 countries. in the united states, our members throughout the supply chain from growing processing and manufacturing distribution and wholesaling and retail and food service handle more than 90% of the fresh produce sold to consumers. my testimony today comes from the perspective of a grower. dealing with food waste is a complex issue that requires a suite of solutions. when fres