Farm to school activities connect school children with healthy foods from local farmers. These efforts include bringing locally produced food into school cafeterias, integrating lessons in agriculture, food, and nutrition into the school day, and establishing school gardens. Farm to school also provides new economic opportunities for local farmers, ranchers, and fishers. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports […]
Nutrition & Food Access
Institute of Medicine Releases Food Systems Framework
On Tuesday, January 13, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council published A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System to aid in food and agriculture decision making. Sponsored by the JPB Foundation, this report outlines guiding principles and practical steps for stakeholders to weigh the varying tradeoffs associated with the vastly […]
The 114th Congress: What to Look Out for in 2015
On Tuesday, January 6, the 114th Congress convened for the first time, after the 113th Congress officially adjourned on January 5. The new Congress takes over following the November election, in which Republicans expanded their majority in the House and won control of the Senate. For more information on the election results and what they […]
Pilot Projects to Boost Local Fruits and Vegetables in School Meal Programs
On December 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that eight states have been selected to participate in the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables, a 2014 Farm Bill provision allowing pilot states to purchase more produce from local farmers for their school meal programs. California, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Oregon, […]
Release: NSAC Comment on Farm to School Award Announcement and Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization
December 2, 2014, Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects in 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands through the USDA Farm to School Grant program, which promotes healthy kids through nutritious school meals and snacks incorporating food products from local […]
New Awards Will Strengthen Farm to School Programs
Local farmers, food businesses, and schools from 82 farm to school projects across the country received a boost today with the announcement of over $5 million in funding from the Farm to School Grant Program by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack. These grant awards will serve more than 13,000 schools and 2.8 million […]
Farm to School In Action in the Nation’s Capital
Savory, steaming collard greens dished on a lunch plate. Hefty sweet potatoes being plucked from the ground. The pungent aromas of bright green herbs as they’re crushed in a mortar. These were just some of the Farm to School experiences children attending Walker Jones Education Campus and CentroNia Learning Community experienced near the nation’s capital […]
Awards Promoting Local and Regional Farmers and Food Systems Announced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced over $32.8 million in awards from three grant programs… Read More →
New Grant Funding Available to Encourage SNAP Participants to Buy from Local Produce Farmers
On Monday, September 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) released its very first request for applications (RFA) for the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) Grant program, a new competitive grants program created in the 2014 Farm Bill to improve the health of low-income communities while boosting economic opportunities for […]
Three Vermont Projects Receive USDA Grants to Promote Sustainable Agriculture and Local Foods
On September 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development agency announced almost $3 million in awards through the Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) and Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG) programs to promote sustainable economic development in rural regions. Eleven projects in New York, North Dakota, and Vermont received RBEG funding, totaling $1,258,825. RBOG funding went […]
Congress Extends 2014 Funding Levels through December 11
On Thursday, September 18, the Senate passed a short-term funding extension, known as a “continuing resolution” (CR), to fund the federal government through December 11. The CR extends fiscal year (FY) 2014 funding levels as well as policy provisions known as appropriations “riders.” The House passed this temporary funding measure earlier this week, and the […]
Senate Hearing on School Meals Highlights Challenges and Opportunities
On Wednesday, July 23, 2014, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing entitled, “Meeting the Challenges of Feeding America’s School Children,” which examined the challenges and successes in serving healthier school meals across the country, as mandated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, also known as the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act […]
New School Lunch Pilot for Locally-Grown Produce Accepting Applications from States
Yesterday, July 21, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) released a Request for Applications from states interested in participating in the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Kevin Concannon, the USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, announced […]
Whither the 2015 Agriculture Funding Process?
On Thursday, June 19, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) postponed consideration of the Senate’s three-part spending package for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2015. The Senate began consideration of the FY 2015 appropriations package on Tuesday, and was scheduled to begin to voting on amendments on Thursday. However, Majority […]
New Farm to School Census Shows Steady Growth
The updated Farm to School Census website reveals even more school district participation in farm to school programs than initially reported…. Read More →
Low Income Families and Produce Farmers Get a Boost Through Increased WIC Voucher Value
Yesterday, June 2, 2014, WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) cash value vouchers (CVVs) for fruits and vegetables for children increased from $6 per month to $8 per month. This increase, one of several changes announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on March 4, 2014 in its final rule […]
Funding Available for Healthy Food Access Projects
On Friday, May 23, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for fiscal year (FY) 2014 for Community Development Corporations (CDCs) under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). HFFI is a tri-agency program administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, HHS, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase […]
Iowan Food Business Takes Root With USDA Loan Guarantee
This post is the second in a two-part series highlighting participants in the USDA Business and Industry Loan Guarantee (B&I) Program’s Local and Regional Food Enterprise Initiative, a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill championed by NSAC and reaffirmed by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill. The first post looked at financing for a North […]
Funding for Kitchen Equipment Will Help Schools Serve Healthy, Local Food
To prepare healthy meals with local produce for hundreds or perhaps thousands of students per day, it helps to have the right tools…. Read More →
Loan Guarantee Helps Rural Coop, Foodways Thrive
Small food and farm businesses in rural areas foster vibrant economies, but difficulty in accessing loans can be a major barrier to these businesses’ success and broader impact, especially for a newly evolving market like the local and regional food business…. Read More →
Funding Available for Specialty Crops
Today USDA announced the availability of $66 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG) to fund projects related to the research, marketing, and development of specialty crops. The funding is available to State Departments of Agriculture, which must apply for funding and then use it to supplement state programs or make grants. SCBG […]
Conservation and Consumer Interests Again Excluded from Ag Research Advisory Board
After a lengthy nomination process, USDA announced yesterday the appointment of eight new members to serve on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. The NAREEE Advisory Board advises the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA’s research agencies, and land-grant colleges and universities on agricultural research, extension, education, and economics policies and priorities. […]
New Local Food Procurement Guide for School Nutrition Programs
Last week, the Farm to School Program of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published Procuring Local Food for Child Nutrition Programs, a guide to help K-12 schools operating one or more Child Nutrition Programs with identifying and procuring locally grown and produced food for use at school cafeterias. Using examples from school districts, State agencies, […]
House Budget Resolution Moves Ahead
Budget Resolution Overview On Tuesday, Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the House GOP’s Fiscal Year 2015 House budget Resolution as a symbolic representation of party priorities and fiscal austerity. It is likely to squeak through passage on the House floor, but that is as far as it will go. The Senate is not planning to […]