Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

How to Have a Healthy Halloween

Avoid dental disasters and sugar shock from this year’s trick-or-treat run For many parents, the scariest thing about Halloween is the haul of candytheir kids bring home after trick-or-treating. Candy has been the star of the holiday for so long that it’s nearly impossible to avoid. (Even dentists seem resigned to that fact: 76 percent of them hand out candy for Halloween, according to the American Dental Association.) "As a dietitian who is obsessed with what her kids eat, I never worried too much about special occasions such as Halloween," says Amy Keating, R.D., a Consumer Reports dietitian. "Routine, everyday eating habits are most important. That said, some kids bring home so much candy that it sits around the house for weeks and becomes an everyday part of the diet instead of an occasional treat." That can be a problem for your child’s health—and yours too, if you can’t resist dipping into your child’s stash. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. With a few strategies in place you can have a healthy Halloween and you don’t have to skip the candy to do it. Set the Ground Rules Before they head out, talk to your children about moderation, suggests Kristi King, M.P.H., R.D.N., senior dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. You don’t want to be too strict, because that can backfire and lead to sneakiness. But you do want to set limits. Tell them that they can have a few pieces when they get home. “That way," she says, "your children aren’t surprised when you tell them ‘no more.’ ” Fuel First A healthy snack or meal will energize kids for the trick-or-treating ahead and begin their outing on the right note. “Protein and fiber will help to keep their tummies satisfied and blood sugar stable,” King says. That means they will be less likely to get tired or cranky, or to snack on candy along the way. Keep it simple and fun—grilled chicken strips and carrots, celery, and bell pepper with mild salsa for dipping, or a hard-boiled egg “ghost” (cut with a jagged bottom) and clementine “pumpkins” (peeled and served with a small green apple or celery “stem” in the middle), for instance. Take a Small Bag It will get filled after going to a just few houses, but your child will still have that feeling of abundance that’s part of the holiday. Steer Kids Away From Stickies, Sours, and Suckers These are the worst candies for teeth. “The longer treats stay in contact with the tooth, the higher chance that they will promote cavity formation,” says James Nickman, D.D.S., M.S., an associate clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Sticky candies like gummies, taffy, and caramel can also pull off braces and get stuck in the spaces between teeth. Sour candies are acidic, which can wear away tooth enamel. Treats that are sticky and sour or sour ones that stay in your mouth for a long time are double-trouble. Chocolate is a better option. It melts, so the time it spends in contact with teeth is minimal. Other tooth-friendly treats are sugar-free gum, popcorn, pretzels, and crackers. Seek Out Alternative Treats Be on the lookout for houses giving out glow sticks, bracelets, flashing LED rings, bubbles, stickers, and more, King says. Even a child who is unenthusiastic about those nonedible treats at first may warm up to them after acquiring a few dozen lollipops. Serve a Candy Chaser While it’s ideal for your child to brush and floss after a snack (and certainly a candy-laden afternoon), doing so may not be practical. “Drinking water helps to rinse some of the sugary treats off the teeth until a more thorough cleaning is possible,” Nickman says. Or give your child a little cheese (like mozzarella string cheese) and a small apple. It's a good blood sugar balancing snack to help with postcandy recovery. And cheese helps neutralize acid in the mouth, which decreases the risk of tooth erosion and developing cavities, according to a 2013 study published in the journal General Dentistry. Trade It In Have your child sort through the candy and pick his or her favorites, then get rid of the rest. “Some dental practices will offer a candy buyback program, where children can cash in on their hard work,” Nickman says. Some parents summon the Halloween Fairy or Switch Witch so their kids can trade in their excess candy for a prize (or donate it). “It’s a nice way for your child to learn about sharing and appreciating others,” King says. Organizations like Operation Gratitude send donated candy to military members overseas. “Removing the temptation from the house will help the child’s oral health,” Nickman says. Stash the Loot Store the candy you do keep in the cabinets, freezer, or pantry, where it won’t be top of mind, King suggests. Adults and kids are more likely to mindlessly munch on foods that are kept in plain view. Dole out a few pieces per day that your child chooses, like in his lunchbox or with her dinner. Toss It After a week or two, make like the 800 Queen Elsas that came knocking this Halloween and “let it go.” A day of Halloween is one thing, King says, but there’s no need to let a glut of candy linger through the end of the year. After all, pumpkin pie and holiday cookies will be around before you know it.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Co-ops Oppose Increased Tax Burden on Farmers

Washington, D.C. (October 25, 2017)--The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today expressed strong opposition to provisions included in the recently-released Unified Framework for Fixing our Broken Tax Code that would increase taxes for farmers across the country. By eliminating the Section 199 deduction that is passed down by farmer co-ops to their member-owners, money will flow from the pockets of farmers and rural communities to investment bankers on Wall Street and venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. Section 199, also known as the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD) was enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and applies to proceeds from agricultural products that are manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted by farmer cooperatives, or that are marketed through co-ops. The great majority of cooperatives pass the benefit through directly to their farmer members. It is estimated that the deduction returns nearly $2 billion annually to rural areas in all 50 states. “Farmer co-ops have consistently supported tax reform and related policies that support economic growth in rural America as well as the broader economy,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “The elimination of the Section 199 deduction for agriculture increases the tax burden on farmers and their co-ops and obviously runs counter to that goal. In a time of continued low commodity prices, those hardworking Americans who grow our food can ill afford for Congress to pass a law that will raise their taxes.” “As both the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee begin considering detailed tax reform packages, they must preserve the Section 199 deduction for agriculture and recognize that lower rates by themselves will not offset a loss of the deduction,” Conner continued. “It would be a strange irony indeed if a Republican Congress and a Republican president pass a law that increases taxes on America’s farmers.” About NCFC Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America's farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn composed of over 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 26 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets. America’s farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing. -

Monday, October 23, 2017

USDA: Seven Northern California Counties Affected by Wildfires to receive D-SNAP

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2017 – Households impacted by recent wildfires in Northern California could be eligible for help buying food through USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced today. Those who may not normally be eligible for nutrition assistance under regular SNAP rules may qualify for D-SNAP -- if their income is under the disaster limits and they have qualifying disaster-related expenses. “D-SNAP is an important next step in helping Northern Californians recover from terrible losses,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. “We will continue our close partnership with the California Department of Social Services to ensure wildfire victims have the food they need.” Benefits will be made available to eligible people who either lived or worked in Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Sonoma and Yuba Counties at the time the wildfires began on October 8, 2017; have been affected by the disaster; and meet certain D-SNAP eligibility criteria. Approved households will receive one month of benefits, equivalent to the maximum amount of benefits normally issued to a SNAP household of their size to meet their food needs as they return to their communities to recover and rebuild. Current SNAP participants in the affected areas will also receive additional benefits as appropriate to match the D-SNAP amounts. The D-SNAP announcement today is the latest in an ongoing series of USDA actions to help those affected by the California wildfires. This includes a waiver to allow SNAP participants to buy hot foods and hot food products with their benefits at authorized SNAP retailers statewide, automatic replacement of 60 percent of October benefits to current participants in specific zip codes in 6 counties, and extended time for SNAP participants in other locations to submit claims for food lost in the disaster. Details on California’s D-SNAP program, including application sites, hours of operation, and information about optional preregistration which can help speed the application process on site, will be available soon at the California Department of Social Services website (http://www.cdss.ca.gov). USDA’s FNS administers 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which together comprise America's nutrition safety net. For more information on FNS assistance during times of disaster, visit www.fns.usda.gov/disaster. #

Sunday, October 1, 2017

USDA Announces SNAP Policy for Displaced Puerto Rico Residents

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2017 -- Individuals receiving benefits under Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP), who have been displaced due to the recent hurricanes, can apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the area where they currently reside, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced. This ensures that NAP participants who relocated as a result of destruction from hurricanes Irma and Maria receive much needed nutrition assistance even though they may not be able to close their current case in Puerto Rico, as would be necessary under regular procedures. The policy will facilitate access to nutritious food for households in immediate need, since NAP benefits cannot be used outside Puerto Rico. “Paperwork should take a back seat in challenging times like these where folk are experiencing hardships in the aftermath of these devastating storms,” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said. “This USDA policy will ensure families get the food they need, where they are, helping bring a bit of stability in trying times.” In an effort to serve these displaced Americans, USDA has advised all SNAP State agencies to serve such households using regular SNAP eligibility rules, including expedited procedures as appropriate. Expedited procedures enable households to receive an eligibility decision within 7 days rather than the typical 30 days, if they have very little income or resources. The flexibility allows NAP households to terminate their NAP cases as soon as is feasible when systems on the island are restored. NAP participants will be asked to sign an affidavit stating that they understand that no member of the household may receive benefits from both NAP and SNAP simultaneously, and agreeing to close their NAP case as soon as possible. Once signed, households may receive SNAP for 2 months subject to SNAP’s normal eligibility criteria. The policy is in effect until October 31, 2017.