How USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs Support Local Food Systems

1. How USDA • Nutrition Assistance Programs • Support Local Food Systems Minnesota Food Access Conference August 2013

3. Intro • USDA Overview • FNS Programs • GoodGreens • USDA Local Food Efforts • Q & A Minnesota Food Access Conference August 2013

4. Minnesota Food Access Conference August 2013

6. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz—snort.

7. Wall Street? Where’s that?

8. Minnesota Facts • 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

10. USDA Overview • 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

11. Nutrition Assistance Programs: Reach People Across Generations... Touch the lives of 1 in 4 Americans each year…

12. Mission • 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. • FNS serves 1 in 4 Americans each year

13. America’s Nutrition Safety Net • 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.

14. School Meals 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 Child Nutrition Programs

15. WIC & Seniors Farmers Market Program • Serves low-income mothers, young children and seniors. • Uses coupons at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community programs that grow fruits and vegetables.

16. All of America’s children have access to safe, nutritious, and balanced meals. Our Commitment

17. All of America’s children have access to safe, nutritious, and balanced meals. Our Commitment

18. National School Lunch Program (NSLP) • Operates in about 100,000 schools and institutions. • New meal patterns (implemented School Year 2012-13) includes: • 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.

19. School Breakfast Program (SBP) • 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.

20. 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

21. Healthy Eating and Academics • These healthy habits may also play a role in helping kids to have: • Greater concentration • Better attendance • Better classroom behavior • Lower obesity rates • Better self-esteem

22. 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

23. 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

24. Research shows that kids who have healthy eating patterns and get regular physical activity are more likely to perform better academically, but… Summary

25. SNAP FACTS • 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

26. SNAP FACTS • 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

27. SNAP MYTHS • Households Don’t Work: • Around 30% of households have earnings. • 40% of participants live in household w/ earnings.

28. SNAP MYTHS • 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

29. SNAP MYTHS • 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.

30. SNAP & Farmers Markets

31. SNAP & Farmers Markets

32. Farm to School Connects K-12 schools with regional or Local farms

33. USDA Foods USDA Foods are Healthier • More whole grains • Less sugar • Less sodium • Less fat

34. FNS Priorities, • Opportunities & Gaps • Summer Food Service Program (21m free & reduced, 3m SFSP) • School Breakfast Program (31.6m lunch, 12.86m breakfast) • Nutrition Education

35. FNS Priorities, • Opportunities & Gaps • SNAP: • Seniors • Employed • Latinos • SNAP at farmers markets • Midwest farmers market partners • Health Care Org partners

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. GoodGreens.org 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

39. 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

40. GoodGreens.org Farm to School Example: • Small models, work intensive • Not scalable • Minimal impact • CPS/FarmLogix/Aramark

41. GoodGreens.org Pembroke Example: • Small models, work intensive • Not scalable • Minimal impact • Food hub establishment • Farmer training, grant receipt

42. USDA Support for Local Food

43. 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

44. The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

45. 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/

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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.

49. Based on a working list of 200 regional food hubs identified by the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration

50. Food Hub Resources • USDA’s Food Hub Portalwww.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