Women In Ag & Recommending Potatoes

One of the oddest moves the USDA ever made was removing potatoes from the WIC program. A new report is now recommending USDA allow fresh white potatoes back in. John Keeling, Executive Director for the National Potato Council

KEELING: Potatoes were already being put back in the WIC Voucher program as a result of the action Congress took but what this does is it affirms that the science and the consumption data that had been being used was inappropriate to keep them out so this is a scientific affirmation that if you use the right consumption data and you use the nutritional value of potatoes and the nutritional needs of the WIC mothers it's clear from the IOM report that potatoes should be included.

The 4th Annual Women in Agriculture Conference offers women in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska a unique opportunity to gather in 28 locations for a 1-day event featuring knowledgeable speakers, inspiring stories, practical advice for improving farm management skills and networking with other women producers. Early bird registrations end Feb. 13. This conference is designed for women who have been farming for years, as well as for new and aspiring farmers. This years theme is "Making Sense of Marketing."

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.