An Education On Potatoes [Opinion]
March 5, 2015 What is often a no-brainer for someone entrenched in the business of agriculture has to be explained — in detail — to some industry outsiders. Case in point: look at the rollercoaster ride potatoes have been on for several years.
In 2009, WIC (Women, Infants and Children), a government program serving low-income mothers and children, expanded to allow USDA food vouchers to be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. The vouchers, however, could not be used to purchase fresh white potatoes at grocery stores. We, as industry insiders, know potatoes are a good source of potassium and fiber.
The National Potato Council (NPC) among others in the industry made some noise, repeatedly, and pointed out potatoes’ nutritional benefits and why they should be included with the other “fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Rosemary Gordon
It was several years, however, before any action occurred. In December 2014, President Obama signed the 2015 Appropriations Act into law, part of which states that potatoes are to be included in the WIC program.
Concurrent with the new law, a report released last month from the Institute Of Medicine (IOM) agrees that white potatoes should be allowed for purchase under WIC. According to NPC, “this change reversed previous IOM recommendations based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and makes the fresh white potato recommendation in the WIC food packages consistent with the current 2010 DGA.”
The report also noted that women and children in WIC are now consuming only 64% and 56%, respectively, of the amount of starchy vegetables recommended by the 2010 DGA.
The guidelines and recommendations may have changed, but what has remained constant is that potatoes are a good source of potassium and fiber.
The takeaway message for potato growers is you need to stay on top of what is going on in your backyard and in Washington. Remember the low-carb craze that resonated with consumers and impacted potato consumption?
Make your message resonate with consumers. For those of you marketing directly to consumers, including recipients of WIC vouchers, how you handle nutrition questions about potatoes at your farm stand or farmers market is important.
Do you have signage that says “good source of potassium”? Do you have recipes handy to provide information on different ways to prepare fresh spuds?
Educate consumers one at a time. Take the initiative and present them with the facts on the nutritional qualities of potatoes.
We know spuds are good for you. Now let’s make sure everyone else does, too.
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