How USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs Support Local Food Systems
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Transcript of How USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs Support Local Food Systems
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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.
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
SUMMARYResearch 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)
StateFY 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 [email protected]
www.usda.govwww.fns.usda.gov