WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded the successful inclusion of an amendment by Senator Susan Collins to appropriations legislation that would require all fresh fruits and vegetables, including fresh white potatoes, to be included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

“This amendment is a tremendous victory for Maine potato farmers and for low income families who are looking for another healthy and inexpensive food option,” Senator King said. “The USDA’s policy, which everyone – except USDA – knows is based on outdated science, was shortsighted and misguided. Low-income Americans deserve better. With the inclusion of this provision today, we are one step closer to helping families get access to all nutritious fruits and vegetables. I applaud the leadership of my colleague Senator Collins in moving this issue forward.”

The amendment would allow for the inclusion of fresh white potatoes in the WIC package upon enactment and requires the USDA to begin a review of the nutrient content of all fresh fruits and vegetables in the program within 90 days.

Last spring, Senator King co-sponsored an amendment with Senator Collins to the Senate Farm Bill which would have included white potatoes in the WIC program. However, the amendment did not receive a vote on the Senate floor.

In October, as the 2013 Farm Bill headed to conference, Senator King wrote a letter to Senators Debbie Stabenow and Thad Cochran, Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, respectively, outlining several farming and food issues of particular importance to Maine, including that all white potatoes be included in the WIC program.

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