Potatoes To Stay On School Lunch Menus

By Growing Produce Staff|November 22, 2011

On Friday, Nov. 18, President Obama signed a government funding extension that included 2012 appropriations funding for USDA and five other agencies. The bill also included the bipartisan Senate amendment sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mark Udall (D-CO), adopted on Oct. 18 by unanimous consent. The amendment prohibits the use of USDA funds to implement rules that would set maximum serving limits on vegetables, including potatoes, in school meal programs.

According to the National Potato Council (NPC), the enactment of the Collins/Udall amendment is a victory for the U.S. potato industry as it prevents the federal government from communicating to children that certain vegetables should be avoided. It is also a win for local school districts, parents, and taxpayers. The amendment will reduce the burden of the $6.8 billion in increased costs associated with USDA’s proposed school meal regulation that would have done nothing to increase the delivery of key nutrients kids need.

“The NPC thanks all of our partners for fighting alongside us in this effort,” says John Keeling, executive vice president and CEO of NPC. “We also wish to recognize the House and Senate leaders who led the effort in Congress to retain the flexibility of school food service professionals to serve students healthy vegetables, like potatoes, without arbitrary limits. Finally, we appreciate all those who joined the nationwide grassroots effort to write and call their members of Congress to keep potatoes in schools. It certainly is a shared effort and we can all celebrate the victory.”

Source: National Potato Council