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How USDA Nutrition Assistance

Programs Support Local Food Systems

Minnesota Food Access ConferenceAugust 2013

• Intro• USDA Overview• FNS Programs• GoodGreens• USDA Local Food Efforts• Q & A

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Minnesota Food Access ConferenceAugust 2013

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Minnesota Food Access ConferenceAugust 2013

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz—snort.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz—snort.

Wall Street? Where’s that?

Wall Street? Where’s that?

Minnesota Facts• Mosquitoes = public nuisance• No x-ing state line w/ chicken/duck atop

your head• All bathtubs must have feet• No elephant parking on Main St.• It’s illegal to tease skunks• No painting sparrows to pass as parakeets

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USDA Overview • Ag Marketing Service• Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service• Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion• Economic Research Service• Farm Service Agency• Food & Nutrition Service• Rural Development• Food Safety Inspection Service• Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Nutrition Assistance Programs:

Touch the lives of 1 in 4 Americans each year…

Reach People Across Generations...

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Mission The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) increases food security and

reduces hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by

providing children and needy families access to food, a healthful

diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports

American agriculture and inspires public confidence.

FNS serves 1 in 4 Americans each year

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America’s Nutrition Safety Net

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): average 46.6 million participants in 2012 of which ½ are children

WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children): about 9 million each month, including half of all US babies

School Meal Programs-National School Lunch Program: about 32 million students; School Breakfast about 13 million students/day.

School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)Summer Food Service Programs Special Milk Program Fruit and Vegetable Program

School Meals Programs

Child Nutrition Programs

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WIC & Seniors Farmers Market Program

•Serves low-income mothers, young children and seniors.

•Uses coupons at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community programs that grow fruits and vegetables.

All of America’s children have access to safe, nutritious, and

balanced meals.

OUR COMMITMENT

All of America’s children have access to safe, nutritious, and

balanced meals.

OUR COMMITMENT

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Operates in about 100,000 schools and institutions.

New meal patterns (implemented School Year 2012-13) includes: More fruits, vegetables, and whole grains Set calorie to age-appropriate levels for

grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Gradually reduces the sodium content of the

meals

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf.

Operates in approximately 89,000 schools and institutions.

New meal patterns( implementation starts in SY 2013-14

More whole grains offered.Appropriate calories for grades K-5, 6-8, and

9-12.Sodium content gradually reducedMore fruit beginning SY 2014-15.

SBP Fact Sheet are available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/AboutBFast/SBPFactSheet.pdf.

School Breakfast Program (SBP)

School Meals Make A Difference

Lunches consumed by NSLP participants were more nutrient dense.

NSLP participants were more likely to consume vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, and mixed dishes.

NSLP participants were less likely to consume salty snacks and beverages other than milk or juice.http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp.htm

Healthy Eating and Academics

These healthy habits may also play a role in helping kids to have: Greater concentration Better attendance Better classroom behavior Lower obesity rates Better self-esteem

Breakfast and Cognition

Eating a healthy breakfast might enhance cognitive function (especially memory)

Increase attendance rates Reduce absenteeism Improve psychosocial function

and mood Improved math scores

Policy Changes

Upgraded Meal Standards for Lunch and Breakfast

Increased reimbursement rate

Published Smart Snacks in School proposed rule, 2/8/13)

Developing new standards for CACFP

Improving the quality of USDA Foods

Expanding Access

SUMMARY

Research shows that kids who have healthy eating patterns and get regular physical activity are

more likely to perform better academically, but…

SNAP FACTS

• 7% of military veterans receive SNAP• 1 in 7 Americans received SNAP in 2011• Average benefit per person = $133.41• Almost 54% of households are children or

elderly. 45% less than 18 yrs old

SNAP FACTS• SNAP = 2% of federal budget• 65% of recent increase in SNAP spending from

increase in participants, due to economy• 20% of increase due to temporary higher benefit

amounts from ARRA• SNAP lessens effect of poverty, decreases food

insecurity & hunger• Each $1 billion on SNAP = 18,000 full-time jobs,

including 3,000 farm jobs• Every $1 in SNAP = up to $1.80 in economic impact

SNAP MYTHS

• Households Don’t Work: • Around 30% of households have

earnings. • 40% of participants live in household w/

earnings.

SNAP MYTHS

• SNAP households spend their benefits on junk food: • Diets of SNAP households don’t differ much from

those of others• Over the past 5 years, farmers market redemptions

increased 506%• ¾ of foods SNAP households use are fruits,

vegetables, grains, dairy, meat & meat alternatives

SNAP MYTHS

• There’s a lot of fraud in SNAP • SNAP cannot be used to withdraw $ at ATMs• 2012 accuracy rate = 96.58, over & under—highest

rate ever!• In 2012, USDA reviewed 15,000+ stores &

disqualified almost 1400 for violations, up from 1215 disqualified in 2011.

SNAP & Farmers Markets

SNAP & Farmers MarketsFarmers' Markets and Direct Marketing Farmers Authorized Store Counts and Redemptions (01/08/13)

State

FY 2011 Authorized

Stores

FY 2012 Authorized

StoresFY 2011

RedemptionsFY 2012

RedemptionsFY 2011 to FY 2012 Redemption Increase

IL 49 65 $110,379 $191,721 73.69%

IN 20 34 $20,527 $30,323 47.72%

MI 151 221 $1,076,611 $1,530,319 42.14%

MN 44 53 $66,852 $149,319 123.36%

OH 82 98 $167,040 $201,013 20.34%

WI 47 64 $104,861 $170,986 63.06%

Midwest 393 535 1,546,270 2,273,681 47.04%

Connects K-12schools withregional or Local farms

Farm to School

USDA Foods

USDA Foods are Healthier

• More whole grains• Less sugar• Less sodium• Less fat

FNS Priorities, Opportunities & Gaps

• Summer Food Service Program (21m free & reduced, 3m SFSP)

• School Breakfast Program (31.6m lunch, 12.86m breakfast)

• Nutrition Education

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FNS Priorities, Opportunities & Gaps

• SNAP:• Seniors• Employed• Latinos

• SNAP at farmers markets• Midwest farmers market partners• Health Care Org partners

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GoodGreens.org

GoodGreens.org envisions a region in which all residents have access to affordable, locally grown food and appreciate the importance of good nutrition for themselves, their families and their communities.

GoodGreens.org

Mission - To promote sustainable local food production, provide economic development and increase consumption of local fruits and vegetables in the Midwest through collaborations with federal, state, local, academic, community and grassroots organizations. Good Greens promotes these through information-sharing, issue and opportunity identification, collaboration and creation of and nurturing of connections within communities and the region.

GoodGreens.org

HISTORY• 2009, Personal Interest in Food Access

issues, agriculture, economic development• Ability to leverage FNS programs & address

all issues• Collaboration w/ US Rep Rush Good Greens

in IL 1st District• Initially envisioned to work on projects

GoodGreens.org

• Member database (around 400)• Monthly Meetings (4th Thursday, 10-12 CT)• Variety of Speakers, represent all facets of

food system• News & info, grant info• Collaboration• Matchmaking• Synergies

GoodGreens.org

Farm to School Example:• Small models, work intensive• Not scalable• Minimal impact• CPS/FarmLogix/Aramark

GoodGreens.org

Pembroke Example:• Small models, work intensive• Not scalable• Minimal impact• Food hub establishment• Farmer training, grant receipt

USDA Support for Local Food

USDA Local & Regional Food Systems

Why local and regional food? Economic development opportunities Educational opportunities for kids and

communities Increased willingness to consume healthy foods Fresher products (sometimes) Increased access to healthy food

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative

www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

USDA and Local/Regional Food Systems

Extending the Growing Season Seasonal High Tunnel initiative

(hoop houses)

NRCS State Conservationists: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/sitenav/national/states/

USDA and Local/Regional Food Systems

Value-Added Product Development Value-Added Producer Grants

Rural Development State Offices: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html

USDA and Local/Regional Food Systems

Farm to Institution Plan and implement new farm to school programs

Farm to School grants

Develop kitchen equipment and cold storage Specialty Crop Block Grants Community Facilities grants and loans Rural Business Enterprise Grants

School and community gardens Specialty Crop Block Grants GreenSchools! program Team Nutrition Training Grants

Regional Food Hubs

USDA Working Definition

A business or organization that actively

manages the aggregation, distribution, and

marketing of source-identified food products

primarily from local and regional producers

to strengthen their ability to satisfy

wholesale, retail, and institutional demand.

Based on a working list of 200 regional food hubs identified by the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration

USDA’s Food Hub Portal www.ams.usda.gov/FoodHubs

A catalogue of USDA's research findings, resources, and support for food hubs

Food Hub Resources

USDA’s Food Hub Directory

Find a food hub near you Directory updated quarterly

www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food:

Resources for Navigating USDA

•Includes data on:USDA-funded local food

projectsFarmers markets and

other “context data” gathered by USDA agencies

•Projects and resources from 9 other federal departments

•Updated regularly

www.usda.gov/kyfcompass

The KYF Compass Map

USDA Food & Nutrition Service

Alan ShannonPublic Affairs77 W Jackson Blvd, 20th FloorChicago IL 60604312-353-1045alan.shannon@fns.usda.gov

www.usda.govwww.fns.usda.gov