How USDA
Nutrition Assistance
Programs
Support Local Food Systems
Minnesota Food Access Conference
August 2013
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Intro
USDA Overview
FNS Programs
GoodGreens
USDA Local Food Efforts
Q&A
Minnesota Food Access Conference
August 2013
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Minnesota Food Access Conference
August 2013
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Zzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzz—
snort.
Wall Street?
Where’s that?
Minnesota Facts
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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
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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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Reach People Across Generations...
Touch the lives of 1 in 4 Americans each year…
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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.
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FNS serves 1 in 4 Americans each year
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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.
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Child Nutrition Programs
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
•Serves low-income mothers, young children and seniors.
•Uses coupons at farmers’
markets, roadside stands,
and community programs
that grow fruits and
vegetables.
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All of America’s
children have
access to safe,
nutritious, and
balanced meals.
All of America’s
children have
access to safe,
nutritious, and
balanced meals.
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Operates in about 100,000 schools and
institutions.
New meal patterns (implemented School
Year 2012-13) includes:
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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.
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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 reduced
More fruit beginning SY 2014-15.
SBP Fact Sheet are available at:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/AboutBFast/SBPFactSheet.pdf.
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:
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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…
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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
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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
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Households Don’t Work:
• Around 30% of households have
earnings.
• 40% of participants live in household w/
earnings.
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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
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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.
Farmers' Markets and Direct Marketing Farmers Authorized Store Counts and Redemptions
(01/08/13)
FY 2011
FY 2012
Authorized Authorized
FY 2011
FY 2012 FY 2011 to FY 2012
Stores
Stores
Redemptions Redemptions Redemption Increase
State
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%
393
535
1,546,270
2,273,681
47.04%
Midwest
Connects K-12
schools with
regional or
Local farms
USDA Foods are Healthier
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More whole grains
Less sugar
Less sodium
Less fat
FNS Priorities,
Opportunities & Gaps
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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
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SNAP:
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Seniors
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Employed
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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
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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
Food Hub Resources
USDA’s Food Hub Portal
www.ams.usda.gov/FoodHubs
A catalogue of USDA's research findings, resources,
and support for food hubs
USDA’s Food Hub Directory
Find a food hub near you
Directory updated quarterly
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food:
Resources for Navigating USDA
www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer
The KYF Compass Map
•Includes data on:
USDA-funded local food
projects
Farmers markets and other
“context data” gathered by
USDA agencies
•Projects and resources from
9 other federal departments
•Updated regularly
www.usda.gov/kyfcompass
USDA Food & Nutrition Service
Alan Shannon
Public Affairs
77 W Jackson Blvd, 20th Floor
Chicago IL 60604
312-353-1045
alan.shannon@fns.usda.gov
www.usda.gov
www.fns.usda.gov