Potato Commission works issues in D. C. with United Fresh

Washington Ag Today September 17, 2010 The United Fresh Produce Association held its Public Policy Conference in Washington D.C. this week and the Washington State Potato Commission was there. In a phone interview from Capitol Hill, commission executive director Chris Voigt said the conference was an opportunity for everyone in the produce industry to come together and work on issues.

Voigt: “There are several things that we are really focused on. Primarily, we have the whole country working the Mexico truck issue trying to reduce the tariff in Mexico.”

Voigt says another focus has been the extension of the child nutrition act.

Voigt: “This is important because this is what feeds our school children. The school lunch program, the WIC program, it is the school breakfast program. Very important feeding programs. Also it is an opportunity to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in the school lunch program. So we have been working with Congress to try and get that approved too.”

Another piece of legislation of interest to the produce industry deals with food safety. Voigt says the House passed its bill, the Senate has yet to act.

Voigt: “They are both different. There pluses and benefits and minuses to each of the versions. So as soon as the Senate approves theirs we will go to conference where we can try to work out the differences and have something that is reasonable, cost-effective and yet provides safe food for the public.”

That’s Washington Ag Today. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net.

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