WHAT WILL SONNY DECIDE ABOUT SNAP CHOICE?

In February, Maine again asked USDA to approve its request to block state residents from using their SNAP benefits to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages and candy. The fate of that request will ultimately be up to Sonny Perdue, President Trump’s nominee for Agriculture secretary— and it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll land on the issue. Republicans tend to favor giving states more flexibility in lieu of federal mandates, but some in the party are very leery of letting Uncle Sam define what’s healthy and what’s not. Blocking Mountain Dew is one thing, but what about Gatorade? Sunny Delight? Iced tea? Some USDA watchers are quick to point out that Perdue is from Coca-Cola country and may be less likely to consider such a move, but it’s still a decision that will be closely watched.

Source: Politico, 4/13/17, SNAP Choice

SNAP DIET NEEDS UPDATE

USDA needs to align SNAP with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which calls for 75% of meals to focus on plant-based foods, nutrition and diet experts argue in a new report. A paper in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine recounts SNAP’s history, reviews its current state, and puts forth ideas to improve the program. “Since [SNAP] was first conceived, the food supply has grown much more complicated -- there are now many new ways to eat badly. There are many barriers to healthy food choices other than cost. And when food costs less, there is the risk that an excess will be eaten….” the report’s authors contend. They want USDA to fund and support state pilot programs that will help identify and provide solutions for larger-scale federal alignment. In addition to improving the health of program participants, the recommendations could also lead to substantial financial savings, they assert. The average monthly SNAP benefit was $126.83 per person in 2015. By aligning SNAP benefits with one of three suggested diets in the new Dietary Guidelines, the average cost of meals would dip to $121.02, for a $73 savings compared with the most comprehensive SNAP benefit of $194, according to the report authors.

Source: MedPage Today, 1/18/17, SNAP Diet Change Needed

BIG BATTLES OVER FOOD POLICY LOOM IN DC

President-elect Trump hasn't yet nominated someone to head USDA and the Food and Drug Administration. But this lack of attention won't make future food battles any less cutthroat. Plenty of people in Washington, including powerful factions in the Republican majority in Congress, are hoping to change a wide variety of food-related policies and believe that the new administration offers a prime opportunity to do so.

Among the potential changes to watch for:

• The Farm Bill, which funds both SNAP (food stamps) and farm subsidies, is due to be renegotiated by the end of 2018. Some conservative Republicans probably will renew their efforts to separate the farm-related provisions and the nutrition programs into separate bills. Many observers believe that this would leave each of them more vulnerable to attack. But farm groups and poverty advocates are likely to mount a fierce counterattack. The stakes are high. SNAP, in particular, is one of the country's most important "safety net" programs for the poor.

• There could be attempts to roll back parts of the school lunch reforms ushered in during the Obama administration. Congress might try to undo school meal standards or dismantle the National School Lunch Program by converting it into block grants that states could manage with only limited federal oversight.
• New menu labeling rules could be at risk. Federal standards requiring chain restaurants to list calories on menus or menu boards are set to go into effect in 2017. Those rules were mandated by the Affordable Care Act, which is set for repeal.

Source: NPR, 12/28/16, Food Fights

USDA announces cheese purchase to benefit food banks

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering to purchase $20 million of cheddar cheese to reduce a private cheese surplus that has reached record levels, while assisting food banks and other food assistance recipients. 

While USDA projects dairy prices to increase throughout the rest of the year, many factors including low world market prices, increased milk supplies and inventories, and slower demand have contributed to a sluggish marketplace for dairy producers and caused dairy revenues to drop 35 percent over the past two years. Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 authorizes USDA to purchase surplus food to benefit food banks and families in need through its nutrition assistance programs.

“America’s farming families are being called on to demonstrate their world-famous resourcefulness and resilience in the face of this current market downturn, and USDA is making use of every tool that we have to help them,” said Vilsack. “For dairy farmers, this has included $11.2 million in payments in August through the Dairy Margin Protection Program, in addition to the surplus purchase offers. While our analysis predicts the market will improve for these hardworking men and women, reducing the surplus can give them extra reassurance while also filling demand at food banks and other organizations that help our nation’s families in need. Farmers at other points in the supply chain are also receiving a boost with over $7 billion in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage payments for the 2015 crop year, which by design kick in when times are tough. As always, we continue to watch market conditions and will explore opportunities for further assistance in the coming months. For producers challenged by weather, disease and falling revenue, we will continue to ensure the availability of a strong safety net to keep them farming or ranching.” 

A solicitation will be issued shortly, and cheese deliveries to food banks and other food assistance recipients are expected to occur beginning in March 2017.

STRENGTHENING FARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

USDA is making up to $5 million in grant funds available to help schools create or strengthen farm to school programs this school year. Farm to School Grants fund school districts, state and local agencies, agricultural producers, and nonprofit organizations that seek to increase local foods served through child nutrition programs, teach children about food and agriculture through garden and classroom education, and develop schools’ and farmers’ capacities to participate in farm to school. They can use the funds for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. This year, awards ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 will be distributed in four different grant categories: Planning, Implementation, Support Service, and Training.  Applications are due on grants.gov by December 8, 2016.

Source: USDA, 9/13/16, Farm-to-School

Food banks to receive cheese from USDA purchase

US dairy farmers are facing record-levels of excess cheese, so USDA is purchasing about $20 million worth of cheese from dairy farmers and giving it to food banks across the country. (The dairy industry asked USDA to buy $150 million worth of cheese.) This is good news for dairy farmers who have seen falling prices and excess cheese in storage and for food banks, who say that cheese is popular but ‘hard to get.’ But, while cheese is in high demand at food banks, high dairy consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and inflammation. The USDA distribution comes at a time when some food banks are refusing low-nutrient, high-calorie foods and encouraging their retail partners to donate fruits and vegetables instead.

Source: NPR, 8/26/16, Say Cheese

Senator Gillibrand urges streamlining of Farmers Market Nutrition Program

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the Agency to assist states in creating and implementing an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system for Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP). By law, all federal nutrition programs are being transitioned to an EBT system by October 2020, but there is no plan for FMNPs. FMNPs allow beneficiaries, who include low-income woman, infants, and young children participating in the WIC program and Seniors, to redeem benefits at farmers markets, using paper vouchers valued at $4 each.

Read more, including the text of her letter, here.

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.

USDA Launches Online MyPlate, MyWins Challenge

In honor of National Nutrition Month, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the MyPlate, MyWins Challenge which encourages people to make small, easy changes – MyWins – to their eating and activity habits, and to build on their wins over time to achieve a healthier lifestyle. With the MyPlate, MyWins Challenge, people can join or form a team online, then challenge team mates – friends, family, co-workers – to consume two foods from each of the MyPlate food groups a day and be active two times a day for two days. The challenge days are chosen by the team.

The challenge is part of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion's (CNPP) new MyPlate, MyWins consumer education initiative, grounded in the most recent edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Concurrent with the challenge, CNPP is launching a MyPlate, MyWins video series combining information with inspirational stories from American families, as part of the overall effort to help people find healthy eating solutions and develop a personalized healthy eating style that fits within their overall lifestyle. Throughout the year, CNPP will continue to add more videos to the series.

How the MyPlate, MyWins Challenge Works

The MyPlate, MyWins Challenge is available to the public through CNPP's SuperTracker, a free, interactive food and physical activity tracking tool. There, anyone can create a group and invite others to join. Participants earn points for eating healthy foods and being physically active, and can compare their progress to others in the group. Group leaders can send messages of encouragement, cheer on members to earn more points, and compare progress amongst the participants. They can also choose from other ready-made challenges or design their own custom challenge specifically for their group. Later this month, CNPP nutritionists will host two-day MyPlate, MyWins Challenges for the public.

Find more information about MyPlate, MyWins challenges and videos at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/take-challenge.

March is National Nutrition Month. Throughout the month, USDA will be highlighting results of our efforts to improve access to safe, healthy food for all Americans and supporting the health of our next generation.

FEDS REVEAL NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES

The federal government has introduced new dietary guidelines that set the standard for federal food programs such as school lunches and SNAP. The new standards recommend that most people get 2,300 mg of salt a day or less; the average American gets 3,400 mg a day. And, for the first time, the guidelines recommend limiting added sugar to 10 percent or less of calories. They also recommend that people eat more fruit, vegetables and whole wheat. While the new guidelines mention that cholesterol in food isn't necessarily harmful--it doesn't directly raise blood cholesterol--they say people should eat as little cholesterol as possible. The new guidelines also say that caffeine and alcohol appear to be safe in limited amounts, but say no one should start drinking either if they do not do so already.

Source: NBC News, 1/7/16, New Diet Guidelines

USDA Grants announced

USDA recently awarded nearly $35 million in new funding through four grant programs to support local and regional food systems, including farmers markets. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded $13.3 million in Farmers Market Promotion Grants to 164 marketing and promotion projects involved with farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and other direct-to-consumer outlets for local food.  

GardenShare is pleased to announce we received one of these grants, for $57,500 to support our work to promote Farmers Markets in St. Lawrence County to SNAP recipients.

Stay tuned for more information as we start to implement this grant!

NEW WAYS TO MEET ELDERLY, DISABLED NUTRITION NEEDS

USDA is proposing to improve access to groceries for homebound seniors and people with disabilities who participate in SNAP.  For the first time, it is planning to permit government agencies and nonprofit organizations that provide grocery purchasing and delivery services to accept SNAP benefits as payment, thus allowing for home delivery to those unable to shop for food. The proposed rule outlines eligibility and participation criteria and seeks comments from stakeholders. USDA will soon begin seeking up to 20 food purchasing and delivery services to participate in a one-year pilot program. Source: USDA, 7/13/15, SNAP Home Delivery

USDA: We need more farmers!

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture just released a report that says there are 22,500 fewer students graduating from ag programs than what are needed in the U.S. This isn't to say that someone without an ag degree can't fill one of the 57,900 high-skill food, ag, natural resources and environment jobs that come open every year, but the report looks at ag grads as being more suited for the positions.

Full article is here.

New dietary guidelines - take action

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) has just submitted their updated recommendations to the U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture.

This little known activity happens every five years, but this year, something different came out in their report!

Two things, actually...

• The report addresses questions of inequitable access to healthy food, dietary disparities between racial and ethnic groups, and the challenges to food security among lower income populations, and,
• Sustainability - The report says, “Meeting current and future food needs will depend on two concurrent approaches: altering individual and population dietary choices and patterns and developing agricultural and production practices that reduce environmental impacts and conserve resources….”

The Secretary of Agriculture is getting pressure from the food industry and some members of Congress to reject the sustainability portion of the report.

What can you do?  Before May 8, write to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services and urge them to accept the recommendations in total!

More on the subject in Mark Winne's blog.

Sign on to a letter to the Secretaries here.

Read the report and offer comments here.

Farm to School Webinars coming up

USDA’s 2015 Farm to School webinar series is scheduled, and available for viewing: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/videos-and-webinars. While originally designed for USDA grantees, these trainings are open to the public this year. Please feel free to join any of the sessions that might be of interest to you, and also feel free to share this series with your networks.

1. Farm to School Planning and Building a Team, January 15, 2:00 pm 
2. Setting Goals and Establishing an Evaluation Baseline, January 28, 2:00 pm
3. Finding and Buying Local Foods, February 5, 2:00 pm
4. Farm to School Menu Planning, February 19, 2:00 pm
5. Food Safety, March 5, 2:00 pm
6. Promoting Your Farm to School Program, March 19, 2:00 pm
7. School Gardening, April 2, 2:00 pm
8. Curriculum Integration, April 16, 2:00 pm
9. Program Sustainability, April 30, 2:00 pm
10. Evaluating Your Program, May 13, 2:00 pm
11. Tying it All Together and Digging In, May 28, 2:00 pm

USDA stops subsidizing EBT machines

As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, the federal government will no longer subsidize electronic benefit transaction (EBT) machines, a move that will force many small, SNAP-accepting stores to stop accepting benefits, or raise their prices. In large supermarkets, EBT cards are swiped at checkout terminals along with credit and debit cards. But in around 118,000 bodegas, corner stores, and mom-and-pop markets nationwide, SNAP EBT cards have been used in specific machines provided to stores free through a federal-state partnership, according to the USDA. These small stores could now see bills of up to $1,000 a year to use EBT equipment, supplies, and related services, according to Xerox Corp, which administers EBT cards in 19 states.   

Source: Phiily.com, 10/14/14, EBT Machines

At GardenShare we are looking into how this may affect local stores and farmers markets that accept SNAP benefits.  Anyone with any information should feel free to be in touch.

Gloria