Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 5/12/18

There's another nutrition issue bubbling up in the farm bill that's been getting lost in the noise about SNAP work requirements. The House bill includes a provision that would allow canned, frozen, fried and pureed fruits and vegetables as part of a national snack program in low-income schools, which has historically been fresh-only.

The language: The provision, found on page 304 of the bill, would delete the word "fresh" from the title of the program and open the door to "all forms" of fruits and vegetables, fundamentally reshaping the $150 million program.

Bubbling over blueberries: The provision has started to get more attention in the media in recent days as a priority of Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine), who represents wild blueberry country. The push has drawn sharp criticism from former Sen. Tom Harkin, who helped establish the program when he was in the Senate.

"People have wanted to include peanuts and trail mix and God knows what else. Now this guy from Maine wants frozen or canned blueberries," Harkin said.

We've been here before, folks: This is yet another chapter in a long-running battle over which types of products should be allowed in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. For a throwback to the last big round of this fight from Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich here.

United Fresh still not buying in: The United Fresh Produce Association continues to think adding all forms of produce into the program is a bad idea that will result in less fruit and vegetable consumption in schools. "Schools haven't asked for this," said Mollie Van Lieu, senior director of nutrition policy at United Fresh, adding that a recent pilot to test all forms in schools didn't go very well.