By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA – Republican legislators from Aroostook County say they stand solidly behind Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in her quest to have potatoes included in the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
“We were shocked to find that potatoes were left off the new list of qualifying foods for WIC recipients,” said Rep. Peter Edgecomb (R-Caribou). “Potatoes are a major crop in Aroostook County, of course; and they are among the most nutritious and affordable of all vegetables. Fortunately, Sen. Collins has written to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak urging that potatoes be added to the list. We hope she is successful.”
Under the WIC guidelines, certain foods qualify for purchase with program coupons. According to a June 18 article in the Bangor Daily News, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reviewing WIC rule changes. In late 2007, the department expanded the list of qualifying foods to include fresh fruits and vegetables for the first time. Potatoes were left off the list because federal officials believe most people already got enough of the vegetable.
“They probably think people in the program eat a lot of french fries,” said Rep. Tyler Clark (R-Easton). “And maybe they do. But potatoes that are baked, mashed or boiled have great nutritional value. They are rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium. Potassium is a mineral that’s in every body cell. We get numerous benefits from potatoes, and it’s hard to understand why the federal government would take a stand against them.”
Other GOP legislators whose districts include parts of Aroostook County include Rep. Henry Joy (Crystal), Rep. Bernard Ayotte (Caswell), and Sen. Roger Sherman (Hodgdon).
Sen. Collins has joined a group of 19 senators who have asked Secretary Vilsak to include potatoes with other fruits and vegetables in the program, which pays for food for low-income and nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and their infants and children.
“Sen. Collins is standing up for The County and its farmers,” said Ayotte. “We grow the best potatoes in America right here, and they should qualify for this program.”
Sherman said Aroostook County’s potato crops is worth more than $150 million a year and affects 3,000 to 4,000 jobs either directly or indirectly.
Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said Maine has been working with other “potato states and the National Potato Council” to have a stronger voice on the issue.
“Through that process we’ve made our wishes and desires known to the USDA through the comment period,” he said. “We believe that white potatoes should be included as they develop the new WIC guidelines.
“It’s our understanding that much of the reasoning for not including white potatoes is that white potatoes are a major part of the U.S. diet and are affordable, so therefore there’s no need to include them,” said Flannery. “Our rationale is that because fresh potatoes are a major part of the American diet and are affordable, they should be included. I would argue that there are many things that are in the guidelines that aren’t nearly as healthy as potatoes that they ought to look at. If you put butter and sour cream on potatoes, that’s your problem not the potato’s problem.”
The comment period has officially closed, and now the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is in the process of reviewing the comments to develop the final rule which is expected in February 2011.