Dave Wilkins
Capital Press Staff Writer
Potato growers want their commodity included in a popular food program for women, infants and children. In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a proposed rule revision that would for the first time add fresh fruits and vegetables to the Women, Infants and Children program food package. But white potatoes were specifically excluded from the proposal, and industry leaders want the agency to reconsider. The U.S. Potato Board and National Potato Council are both submitting comments to USDA in support of adding spuds to the program's approved food list. "The research we provided details why potatoes are a natural fit for the program," said Linda McCashion, vice president of public relations for the U.S. Potato Board.
In a letter to USDA, the national potato group points out the nutritional value and affordability of spuds. One medium white potato, eaten with the skin, provides 45 percent of the daily value for vitamin C and is an excellent source of potassium, according to the USPB. White potatoes are one of the best nutrition bargains in the produce aisle with an average retail cost in 2004 of just 37 cents per pound, USPB officials said.

By Larry Parson Herald Staff Writer

The group of 60 people lunched Friday on fresh spinach, Congressman Sam Farr said with pride. Then the Salinas assemblage of public officials, scientists and farm industry representatives returned to the table to talk about how to restore spinach's battered image after the September E. coli outbreak that killed three people and sickened 204 across the country.  "People walked away with the feeling we are all on the same page," said Farr, D-Carmel, after the private meeting he convened at the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office about food safety for spinach and other leafy green crops.  The meeting came a day after federal and state investigators pointed the finger at wild pigs as a possible source for the E. coli strain that contaminated bagged fresh spinach processed by Natural Selection Foods of San Juan Bautista.  The outbreak and voluntary recall of bagged spinach last month left the Central Coast produce industry reeling from depressed consumer demand and increased pressure by regulators to improve food safety practices.

Farr said he would seek $6 million for more research on E. coli contamination of fresh produce, and said a new task force, taking its cue from the beef industry's response to outbreaks, will be helpful. Farr said participants at Friday's four-hour session agreed that the research now being done is practical and helpful.

But Tom Nassif, president of the Western Growers Association, said, "A lot of science is being done,... but we're told it will be years away.”    “We're working very hard," Nassif said. Nassif said the outbreak cost the spinach industry at least $100 million, while fallout is cutting demand for fresh produce, even beyond the United States.