The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a program in 2008 to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income elementary school students during the school day.
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is separate from the school lunch program, with annual funding around $176 million.
Now, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson has introduced a bill to expand the program to include frozen, canned, dried and pureed fruits and vegetables.
The bill also has support from Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and Indiana senators Joe Donnelly and Daniel Coats. Both of those states are top producers of canned food.
In a release, supporters make a local-food argument to include canned food, saying the expansion "accommodates cold-weather states where local fruit and vegetable harvests are seasonal."
"Our farmers grow the corn, carrots, peas, sweet corn and cranberries that give kids the healthy foods they need to succeed and I'm proud to support this effort that will boost our Grown in Wisconsin economy," Baldwin said in the release.
Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association told food industry news site The Packer that the program's snacks "should remain 'Fresh,' and added that  "school officials, teachers, parents, students and the public health community also feel strongly that the FFVP should be fresh."
Read More:
- Johnson Introduces School Snacks Bill (Politico)
- Bill Opens Snack Program To Processed Fruits, Vegetables (The Packer)
