GLOBAL FOOD INSECURITY DROPS...FOR NOW

USDA estimates that between 2014 and 2015 food security improved for the 76 countries it analyzed. It estimated the number of food-insecure people fell 9%, from 521 million in 2014 to 475 million in 2015. The share of these countries’ populations that are food insecure is expected to drop from 14.8% in 2014 to 13.4% in 2015. But over the next decade, the number of food- insecure people for the 76 countries is projected to deteriorate, as the share of population that is food insecure rises from 13.4% in 2015 to 15.1% in 2025.

Source: USDA, 6/29/15, Global Food Insecurity

Quote of the Week

"The advocacy community has done a tremendous job of educating members and bringing up important issues like the need to lower barriers to summer meals participation...But there is plenty of work still to do and I know that groups that care about health, nutrition, education, and enrichment programs will continue to make their voices heard."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), The Huffington Post 

PUSH BACK AGAINST DIETARY GUIDELINES

Congressional Republicans are pushing back against proposed dietary guidelines that urge Americans to consider the environment when deciding what foods to eat. House and Senate spending bills approved by subcommittees in each chamber say the guidelines must focus only on nutrition and diet. That's a clear effort to thwart a recommendation by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that eating a diet higher in vegetables and other plant-based foods is better for the environment than eating a diet based on foods from animals. This advice from a government advisory panel of independent doctors and nutrition experts has raised the ire of the meat industry. The dietary guidelines, which come out every 5 years, informs everything from school lunches and food package labels to advice from your doctor. The Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments are expected to issue a final version by year's end based on the advisory committee's recommendations.

Source: MSN, 6/24/15, Dietary Guidelines

Freedom from hunger?

Independence Day: No Time to Forget Hungry Vets – Public New Service, July 1, 2015

As Congress conducts a review of the SNAP Program, there are 26,000 Massachusetts veterans relying on SNAP to put food on the table. “We are worried that the SNAP program is being looked at as a potential funding source, for either tax cuts or other programs,” said Pat Baker, senior policy analyst at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. It’s crucial to remember, as Independence Day approaches, these veterans who have defended the nation’s freedom. “Many of them fall on hard times – often they’re struggling with homelessness, mental illness – they need the benefit as much as every other citizen in the country,” said Baker.

Two visions of the food system

My old friend in this field of work back in Connecticut just posted this blog entry on Two Visions of the food system.

Some of what he writes is specific to that state, but much applies to all of us!  Enjoy!

Gloria

Farm to school efforts raise funds with Barnraiser

The National Farm to School Network is partnering with Barnraiser, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to good food and farming projects, to elevate farm to school activities across the country. From school gardens in North Carolina to community cooking education in California, these projects are being funded by people who believe in the power of farm to school activities to support vibrant communities and to empower children and families to make healthy food choices.

NFSN will be a featured partner on the site with a page that aggregates farm to school crowdfunding campaigns from across the country. If you would like help initiating a crowdfunding campaign for your farm to school initiative, check out the Barnraiser Campaign Guide and/or contact Marie Sayles, Projects & Partnerships Director, at marie@barnraiser.us. Don't forget to let us know when your project is live!

Trends with SNAP at the farmers markets

Nationwide, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants are spending more of their benefits to make purchases at roadside farm stands, farmers markets and directly from local farmers than ever before. SNAP redemptions at those outlets in 2014 totaled $18.8 million, a nearly six-fold increase since 2008.

In St. Lawrence County, when measured over that same time period, we have also seen a similar large increase in the use of SNAP benefits at our farmers markets, partly due to expansion of the program to all markets in the County.  However, when we look at just 2014 SNAP usage at farmers markets compared to 2013, there was a 28% decrease!

We are trying to understand this in order to find way to address it and help low-income families access this healthy local food while supporting local farmers.  Any and all insights and ideas are welcome!