No snacks for you - dried fruits and nuts

This coverage from the McClatchy Newspapers speaks of the discontent by some dried fruit and nut marketers about not being included in fresh fruit and vegetable snack program in the farm bill. From the piece:

The bill includes record spending for the fruit, vegetable and nut industries that banded together as a specialty crop alliance. Notably, the new farm bill expanded an existing fresh fruit and vegetable snack program previously limited to 14 states.

Starting Oct. 1, selected schools in all 50 states will be able to partake in the fresh fruit and vegetable snack program. The new farm bill adds some $500 million for the purchases over the next five years.

"There was a general assumption that nuts and dried fruits would be included in this program; they are considered to be healthy," noted Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.

But after Congress finished the farm bill, apparently, California lawmakers realized the bill and an accompanying 423-page report had been adjusted. In part, this so-called report language limited the reach of the fresh snack program.

"It is not the intent of the (bill's) managers to allow this program to provide other products, such as nuts, either on their own or co-mingled with other foods, such as in a trail mix," the bill report states.

Haley, whose clients include the nut-growing cooperative Diamond of California, said the provision was included "when no one was looking." Senate staffers are thought to have been primarily responsible, California Farm Bureau Federation national affairs director Jack King indicated Monday.

"It caught us all by surprise," King said.

Separately, the bill language itself was tweaked to omit dried fruits from the fresh fruit and vegetable snack provision. Until now, dried fruits like raisins, prunes and figs have been acceptable snack components. But under a strict interpretation of the bill, omission of a reference to dried fruits means they can no longer be purchased for the snack program.

Costa, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said last week he hadn't heard anything about it, and Haley said other California lawmakers were likewise left in the dark. The Californians could fight back in September, when Congress returns; a spokeswoman for the Senate agriculture panel could not be reached Monday.

TK: It is not as if the dried fruit people came up empty in the farm bill. From the farm bill managers' statement, concerning the Department of Defense Fresh program:


The Senate amendment provides that, in lieu of purchases required under Sec. 10603, the Secretary purchase fruits, vegetables, and nuts for use in domestic food assistance programs using Section 32 funds. Purchase amounts are set at: $390 million for fiscal year 2008, $393 million for fiscal year 2009, $399 million for fiscal year 2010, $403 million for fiscal year 2011, and $406 million for fiscal year 2012 and each year thereafter. Items purchased may be in frozen, canned, dried, or fresh form.


TK: There should be no great surprise now among lawmakers and lobbyists about the intent of the farm bill relative to expansion of the fruit fruit and vegetable program. From the managers statement back in mid-May:


(53) Expansion of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

As the name of the program makes clear, it is the intent of the program to provide children with free fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not the intent of the Managers to allow this program to provide other products, such as nuts, either on their own or comingled with other foods, such as in a trail mix. The Managers support the inclusion of all fruits and vegetables in the federal nutrition programs where supported by science and will continue to work with the Department on promoting access to all fruits and vegetables.