Dive Brief:
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U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) is pushing a plan to get frozen, canned, dried and pureed foods included in the federal program that makes fresh fruits and vegetables available to schoolchildren. According to an Associated Press story posted by Food Manufacturing, his proposal is part of the current House of Representatives version of the Farm Bill.
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Poliquin's bill, called the "Fruit and Vegetable Access for Children Act," would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The current program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives $50 to $75 per child at eligible elementary schools for fresh produce to be made available during the school day. The goals are to get kids to try new and different types of fresh produce, as well as to fight obesity and promote nutritional education.
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Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who initiated the USDA program in 2002, has been critical of Poliquin's amendment. He told the AP, "once you start whittling away at [the program], it's no longer a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program. People have wanted to include peanuts and trail mix and God knows what else. Now this guy from Maine wants frozen or canned blueberries." Harkin also expressed concern about added sugars in frozen fruit items.
Dive Insight:
Poliquin has noted that the blueberry industry in Maine — the top producer in the country — has been facing an oversupply, low prices and uneven harvests.
Nancy McBrady, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, told AP that most of the product is frozen due to the short production season. "It [frozen berries] shouldn't be the second choice, it should be up there on equal footing," she said.
Whether frozen and canned foods — let alone dried or pureed ones — are as nutritious as fresh is part of a continuing debate. Research has shown that while frozen produce can be as healthy as fresh, many people prefer fresh foods whenever possible, especially millennials who like healthy and natural ingredients. Studies have also found that canned produce often retains its nutrients, as long as it doesn't include added salt and sugars.
Regardless of convenience, consumers are increasingly concerned about processing practices and don't want additives, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors in their food if it can be avoided. These concerns are likely to be even stronger when it comes to foods given to children. However, since manufacturers are increasingly removing such items in response to consumer demand — and adopting techniques such as high-pressure processing to preserve a food's texture and taste — these issues may be less of a problem.
Poliquin's proposal, which would clearly benefit his constituent farmers, may have a tough time being adopted anytime soon. Negotiations over a new Farm Bill have stalled in Congress over whether to institute work requirements for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The current Farm Bill expires Sept. 30, but, according to The Wall Street Journal, some lawmakers might simply extend it rather than push to adopt a new one by that deadline.