Discussion draft worth talking about

Here is a draft of Sen. Harkin's nutrition title for the farm bill, and here are pages that discussion the fruit and vegetable snack program.

Harkin has changed the fruit and vegetable program to skew toward lower income schools, or schools were 50% or more of the kids receive free or reduced price meals. The criteria for funds encourages collaboration with the industry and evidence of health among the student body, as well. Funded at $225 million annually, the Harkin draft would put fruits and vegetables in thousands of schools and make a significant impact.

As the edges of the farm bill get tugged on in the coming weeks, it will be important for the industry to make its voice heard on issues like the snack program to preserve the meaningful funding levels that Harkin as proposed.