HARRISBURG — The message delivered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol was national in scope, but state Rep. David H. Rowe and state Sen. Judy Ward said the ideas behind the Eat Real Food Tour carry implications closer to home for Mifflin and Juniata counties.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched the Eat Real Food Tour in Harrisburg on Wednesday, bringing together federal officials, state lawmakers and regional farmers to promote nutrition policy centered on whole foods and local agriculture. Ward and Rowe were among the Pennsylvania legislators who attended the rally and press conference.

Rowe, whose 85th Legislative District includes Mifflin County and part of Juniata County, said Pennsylvania was a natural place to begin the tour.

“We’re grateful to Secretary Kennedy for choosing Pennsylvania, an agricultural powerhouse, to kick off the Eat Real Food Tour,” Rowe said. “I’ve seen firsthand how eating real food can reverse disease and restore health, and I’m proud that Pennsylvania is leading bipartisan efforts to make healthier choices more accessible and health care more affordable for every family in our commonwealth.”

The event followed the rollout of updated federal dietary guidelines and what Kennedy described as a broader reset of national nutrition policy. The tour is intended to elevate conversations around food quality, farming practices and long-term public health costs.

For Rowe, the conversation connects directly to the rural makeup of his district, where agriculture remains a central part of the economy.

In Mifflin and Juniata counties, farms range from large-scale operations to small, family-owned businesses, many of which already emphasize locally grown and minimally processed food. Rowe said those producers are positioned to benefit from renewed attention on food sourcing and nutrition.

“This is about supporting farmers who are already doing things right and helping families understand the connection between what they eat and how they feel,” Rowe said in a social media post following the event, noting the tour’s goal of encouraging Pennsylvanians to eat real food.

Ward, whose 30th Senate District includes Juniata County and parts of Mifflin County, also attended the rally and described it as an opportunity to bring national attention to issues rural communities have long understood.

“I was happy to join U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Capitol as he stopped by as part of his Take Back Your Health Tour,” Ward said in a statement.

While Ward did not issue a separate press release following the rally, her participation underscored the local impact of federal nutrition policy decisions, particularly in areas where access to fresh food and preventive health care can vary widely by community.

Supporters of the Eat Real Food initiative argue that improving nutrition can help address rising rates of chronic illness while also strengthening local food systems. Kennedy’s tour includes stops with farmers and state leaders to highlight how policy choices influence both public health outcomes and agricultural sustainability.

The Harrisburg event featured a rally at the Capitol followed by a roundtable discussion with regional farmers. In addition to Ward and Rowe, several other state lawmakers attended, emphasizing the bipartisan framing of the initiative.

For residents in Mifflin and Juniata counties, the takeaway is less about a single rally and more about how the message translates locally. Advocates say eating real food does not require sweeping lifestyle changes, but greater awareness of food sources and support for local producers.

Rowe said he hopes residents see the tour as encouragement rather than instruction.

“This is about giving people information and options,” he said. “Families should be able to make choices that fit their lives while knowing those choices can have long-term effects on their health.”

Local officials noted that rural communities often face unique challenges related to food access, including transportation barriers and limited retail options. At the same time, proximity to farms and food producers creates opportunities that urban areas may lack.

As the Eat Real Food Tour continues nationally, Ward and Rowe said the focus now shifts to how those ideas are applied at home, through policy discussions, community programs and individual decisions.

The Harrisburg stop may be over, but both lawmakers said the broader conversation about food, health and agriculture is just beginning for communities across central Pennsylvania.