Potato Grower

September 2019

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38 POTATO GROWER | SEPTEMBER 2019 MOST IMPORTANT MEAL Rules around school meals changed nine years ago when the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was implemented. This act was created to fund child nutrition programs across the country. The act allows the USDA the opportunity to make reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children. The act enables schools to receive federal reimbursement for meals that follow the Dietary Guidelines for America (DGA) and are served to qualifying students. The USDA school nutrition standards at breakfast specify that schools are required to offer fruit to students. While vegetables are not required, this rule gives schools the option to offer vegetables in place of the required fruit component. However, the first two cups of any such substitution must be from the DGA's dark green, red and orange, beans and peas (legumes) or other vegetable subgroups—in other words, every vegetable subgroup other than starchy, under which the potato falls. Across the U.S. population, the average intake of all vegetables is below the amount recommended in the DGA, even that of starchy vegetables. Within the starchy vegetable group, there are several nutrients of concern that school-age children lack. Nutrients of concern are specific nutrients that are under- consumed and whose current intakes may pose a substantial public health concern. There are 10 nutrients of concern listed; of those, five are found in potatoes: potassium (15 percent recommended daily value), dietary fiber (7 percent), magnesium (6 percent), iron (6 percent) and vitamin C (30 percent). To look at school foodservice operators' understanding of the school nutrition standards and how potatoes fit into breakfast, a survey was conducted by the National Potato Council. Survey results indicated that a vast majority of foodservice operators believe potatoes at breakfast would help increase students' consumption of nutrients of concern (92 percent) and could be used to introduce kids to other types of vegetables (90 percent). Due to language included in the agriculture appropriations bill passed by Congress in early 2019, the school nutrition standards now allow for potatoes to be more readily served at breakfast. As of Feb. 15, 2019, schools may offer any vegetable, including potatoes, in place of fruit. Since this change went into effect, Potatoes USA has been hard at work inspiring operators to serve more potatoes at school breakfasts. A social media campaign has been launched to inform operators of this law change and is providing operators with valuable resources to upgrade their breakfast offerings for the upcoming school year. Potatoes USA's school foodservice marketing program is focused on creating future generations of potato lovers by nurturing school foodservice relationships to drive potato volume and by diversifying the use of potatoes on school menus. The program creates student-approved recipes for operators and helps develop customized meals for their menus. Potatoes USA is also creating student-focused educational materials to increase potato consumption in school meals and to educate students on the benefits of potatoes. To get involved in these efforts to increase the use of potatoes in schools, contact Rachael Lynch at rachael@potatoesusa.com. Potatoes USA By Rachael Lynch Global Marketing Manager Potatoes USA's school foodservice marketing program is focused on creating future generations of potato lovers by nurturing school foodservice relationships. Potatoes raise the bar at school breakfasts 208.745.1105 POTATO STORAGE 2361-17BehlenBuildingSys13h.indd 1 7/26/19 9:31 AM

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