CRS explanation

I have a call in to the USDA asking about the level of fruits and vegetables purchased by Section 32 funds. Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from a Congressional Research Service report last year that takes on the complex issue.
From the report:

Specialty Crop Requirement. The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, §10603) requires that not less than $200 million annually in Section 32 funds be used to buy fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops, $50 million of it for fruits and vegetables for schools through the Defense Department Fresh Program. There has been some debate over whether the $200 million is “new” money. USDA had maintained that it already was spending more than this level each year, particularly when both mandatory and contingency (bonus) purchases were counted. Some lawmakers have countered that language in the farm bill conference report directs that the $200 million should be in addition to such past purchases. The Senate reports accompanying the annual USDA appropriations have reminded USDA of these farm bill instructions, but the different interpretations have not been resolved.