Next week, both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees may consider legislation to lift the current ban on fresh potatoes in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)—a federal program that supplies nutrition to low-income mothers and their young children.
Since the USDA revised the WIC basket in 2007 to allow for the purchase of all fresh fruits and vegetables—except potatoes—the National Potato Council and state potato organization partners have been working to restore common sense and consistency with current science by adding fresh potatoes to the program.
The NPC urgently needs your help to reinforce support on Capitol Hill to remove the ban on potatoes once and for all.
WIC participants and U.S. taxpayers deserve federal nutrition policy that is science-based, has the potential to improve the health of participants, and makes wise use of federal funds. Revising the WIC food package will send a strong message that potatoes are an important and efficient nutrient delivery vehicle that should be included with all vegetables in federal nutrition programs.
Please click below to write your House and Senate members to urge them to support common sense language that would allow nutritionally rich, U.S.-grown potatoes to be included in the WIC program.
Thank you for your support.
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