Spudman January 2023 - 35

right before long-term storage.
The device lasts a minimum of five
years, but, for context, the first thing
that generally dies out in electronics
is the battery.
But batteries usually die out with
excessive charging, said Soltan, who
has a background in electronics
manufacturing. " This is charged
only once a year, so the battery is
not likely to die out for quite some
time. It's modular, and can be
replaced if needed. "
Soiltech worked with growers to
arrive at a price as well, essentially
starting there and working within
the means to keep the device
affordable. It is currently available for
$400 per unit with a cost of $99/year
for the software, regardless of the
number of units.
Today, Soiltech has over 2,000
sensor deployments across hundreds
of growers. This includes a large
variety of crops for a multitude of
reasons, but the device still offers the
most benefit for potato growers.
INDUSTRY NEWS
PROPOSED WIC UPDATE AFFIRMS WHITE POTATO INCLUSION
USDA has announced proposed changes
to the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children,
known as WIC. The rule incorporates
recommendations from the 2017 NASEM
report (scientific review of the WIC food
packages required by Congress) and the
2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Specific to potatoes, USDA affirmed
that white potatoes are WIC-eligible by
codifying the requirements as mandated
by Congress in 2015 that prevented
USDA excluding white potatoes from the
program. This does not create a material
change to current program requirements,
but is a positive shift by USDA, which
had previously allowed participants to
purchase any variety of fresh, whole, or cut
vegetables, except white potatoes.
" The codification of white potatoes'
inclusion in the WIC program is a
tremendous success and represents years
of effort by NPC, our bipartisan supporters
in Congress, and the entire U.S. potato
industry, " said Dominic LaJoie, National
Potato Council immediate past president
and potato grower from Maine. " Thanks
to the relentless efforts of champions like
Sen. Susan Collins and other members
representing potato growing areas, we
were able to bring common sense to the
WIC program through an act of Congress.
Thankfully, USDA's decision to confirm
white potatoes as a WIC-eligible vegetable
cements our place in this invaluable
nutrition program. "
The proposed rule also increases
the cash value vouchers (fixed-dollar
amount checks used to purchase fruits
and vegetables) allowances for fruits and
vegetables currently authorized under WIC.
The proposed rule would also require (rather
than just leave it up to the states) state
agencies to authorize at least one other form
of fruits and vegetables in addition to fresh.
- National Potato Council
www.modernproduceequipment.com
WASHING, GRADING, AND FILLING EQUIPMENT
(800) 663-8640
5118 W. 72nd St. Fremont, MI 49412
www.ModernProduceEquipment.com
tom@modernproduceequipment.com
Spudman.com 35
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Spudman January 2023

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