Give Peach a Chance—
Keep “Fresh” in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

In the Senate version of the farm bill, this program remains unchanged. However, under pressure by food industry lobbies like the American Frozen Food Institute, the House bill expands the program to include frozen, canned, and dried produce. Opponents see this proposal as undercutting the purpose of the program.

“There’s nothing [in the House bill] that would stop fruit cups with syrup and frozen Tater Tots with sodium,” said Matthew Marsom from the Public Health Institute [quoted in the Post article]. “You just don’t get those problems with fresh.”

A key component to the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is educating children about nutrition. Surely, children should learn about the benefits and taste of fresh produce. And they should also learn about junk foods disguised as healthy foods. A chocolate-chip bejeweled granola bar or a can of sugar-soaked peaches has a place in life. But even Cookie Monster is now singing, “A cookie is a some time food.”

Besides the obvious nutritional benefits, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides low-income children—many of whom live in food deserts—the opportunity to eat the peach.

And there is no other thing like a juicy, fresh peach.

Resources

• Read more about Bread’s mini campaign for domestic nutrition programs.
• Read more about the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables in the 2012 “Hunger Report.”
• Read the Washington Post article “Food Fight in Congress Focuses on Fresh vs. Frozen, Canned Produce in Schools.”

Eric Bond is managing editor at Bread for the World.