Summer bounty: cucumbers

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless. Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged. The cucumber is originally from South Asia, but now grows on most continents. Many different varieties are traded on the global market. 

Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon white wine

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon sugar

1/2 cup (1-inch) slices red bell pepper

1/2 cup (1-inch) slices green bell pepper

3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 English cucumber, sliced

Preparation

1. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

2. Add bell peppers and remaining ingredients to wine mixture; toss gently to coat.

Source:  myrecipes.com

SCHOOL MEALS IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY, DIET, WEIGHT

Mounting evidence shows that healthy school meals play a key role in supporting children’s well-being, including alleviating food insecurity; improving dietary intake; and mitigating obesity.  Several recent studies published in prestigious journals and reports that find:

• Free or reduced-price school lunches reduce food insecurity by at least 3.8 percent;
• Access to school breakfast decreases the risk of food insecurity and breakfast-skipping, especially among low-income children;
• New nutrition standards, which took effect in the 2012-2013 school year, improve nutritional outcomes among students, including improvements in fruit and vegetable selection and consumption;
• Low-income students who eat both school breakfast and lunch have significantly better overall diet quality than their peers who do not eat school meals; and
• Participation in federally funded nutrition programs  provided in child care, preschool, school, or summer settings is associated with a significantly lower body mass index among young, low-income children.

Source: Food Research & Action Council, 8/23/16, School Meal Benefits

Food System Managers as part of local government

A growing number of cities are creating an office within local government dedicated to food, much like they have departments for transportation and education. Until recently, the many disparate elements of the food system—from production to land prices, to local distribution challenges, to zoning hurdles for retailers—have often been viewed in isolation. But the growth of these offices in places like Baltimore, Denver, and Minneapolis, may be a sign that cities are beginning to see food in a new, holistic light. The specifics of the food policy positions vary from city to city--most are focused on sustainability or health, while others are using food as a tool for economic development. The underlying force, though, is the same: Cities are recognizing the chronic health and economic challenges that persist in communities with little access to healthy food, and the fact that local government can play a role in improving the food environment—through policy that impacts everything from land use to transit.

Source: Civil Eats, 8/22/16, Food Systems Managers

NEW YORK CONSIDERING TAX CREDIT FOR FOOD DONATIONS

Last year New York farmers give 12 million of pounds of apples, squash, corn, and other agricultural products to the state's food banks. Now, legislation awaiting action by Governor Cuomo would offer farmers a tax break of up to $5,000 a year for donations to the regional food banks that serve hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters around the state. The federal government already offers a tax credit to farmers who donate goods to food banks. Several states have created their own tax credits, including California, Oregon and Colorado.

Source: Fox Business News, 8/20/16, Tax Credits

Two weeks and counting! Have you signed up for the 5K yet?

Second Annual Fight Hunger 5K

September 11, 2016

Race - Fun Run - Walkathon

At the Remington Recreation Trail in Canton

Registration in the Maplewood - Partridge Knoll picnic pavilion starting at 12:30 PM

Walkers leave at 1:00, Runners leave at 1:30

Run, walk, pull the kids in a wagon or push a stroller - whatever works for you!

Join us to raise awareness of the issue of hunger and funds for GardenShare.

How to get started:

• Either fly solo or gather a team from work, school, or your place of worship!
• Download the registration form and start asking friends, family, classmates, and co-workers to make a donation to sponsor you.
• Alternatively, you can go here and create an online fundraising page and e-mail a link to friends, family, and others to ask for secure donations to be made directly to GardenShare.
• Bring your signed registration form and any cash or checks you have collected to the registration booth on September 11.
• Best parking will be behind Maplewood, follow the signs to the parking area, and the footpath to the pavilion.
• Dress for the weather!

If you are unable to join us, you can still make a donation to support those who are walking or running here.

Last year's crowd at the Fight Hunger 5K
Can we make this year even bigger?

Thank you to our sponsors!

Presenting sponsors:

Friend sponsors:

Curran Renewable Energy
Hyde-Stone Mechanical Contractors

North Country Savings Bank

Save-a-Lot

St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union

Tupper Lake Supply

MORE DATA NEEDED ON MILITARY FAMILIES’ FOOD NEEDS

Military service members used more than $21 million in SNAP benefits in commissaries between September 2014 and August 2015, and Congress funded, until 2015, additional food assistance for military families. In addition, about 24% of students attending schools on Department of Defense (DOD) military bases were eligible for free school meals, and another 21% were eligible for reduced-price meals. Now, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report is calling for more data on food needs for military families. “Without more complete survey data,” GAO wrote, “DOD will not understand the prevalence of need among service members to effectively target its support and determine if it should assign department-level responsibility for monitoring food assistance needs.”

Source: San Diego Union Tribune, 8/2/16, Military Family Food

USDA announces cheese purchase to support dairy farmers and food assistance programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase approximately 11 million pounds of cheese from private inventories to assist food banks and pantries across the nation, while reducing a cheese surplus that is at its highest level in 30 years. The purchase, valued at $20 million, will be provided to families in need across the country through USDA nutrition assistance programs, while assisting the stalled marketplace for dairy producers whose revenues have dropped 35 percent over the past two years.

"We understand that the nation's dairy producers are experiencing challenges due to market conditions and that food banks continue to see strong demand for assistance," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "This commodity purchase is part of a robust, comprehensive safety net that will help reduce a cheese surplus that is at a 30-year high while, at the same time, moving a high-protein food to the tables of those most in need. USDA will continue to look for ways within its authorities to tackle food insecurity and provide for added stability in the marketplace."

USDA received requests from Congress, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau and the National Milk Producers Federation to make an immediate dairy purchase. Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 authorizes USDA to utilize fiscal year 2016 funds to purchase surplus food to benefit food banks and families in need through its nutrition assistance programs.