Recently, The Salt had a chance to chat with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He's held the top post at USDA since January 2009. As a former Iowa governor, he knows a thing or two about farm country and he's been open about his struggles with weight.
We covered a range of issues from nutrition rules to food stamp fraud to antibiotic use in food animals. But of course, we asked him what he's eating first.
A highlight (talking about the new nutrition rules for school food &potatoes):
"Often times, it isn't the potato, it's the way in which the potato is produced or made available to students that may create an issue."
Vilsack: Not Done With Potatoes And School Lunch
Like to receive news like this by email? Join and Subscribe!
Get the latest potato industry news straight to your WhatsApp. Join the PotatoPro WhatsApp Community!
Related News
四月 21, 2026
Spain: stronger agri-food border controls with more physical inspections
The government says that the reorganization of border controls made it possible to increase physical inspections of agri-food products by 7.5% in one year, strengthening oversight of imports and exports amid growing trade flows.
四月 08, 2026
Europe: ecological requirements for the agro-industrial sector
All packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable by 2030, while the industry is calling for more flexible requirements and extended timelines to clear existing stock.
四月 04, 2026
FAO Food Price Index rises for a second consecutive month, driven mostly by energy‑related pressures on vegetable oil and sugar prices
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 128.5 points in March 2026, up 3.0 points (2.4 percent) from its revised February level, marking a second consecutive month of increase.
