Blog
Cultivating Health, Nutrition & Innovation in the Land of Enchantment
USDA FNS Administrator and regional FNS leadership visited New Mexico to recognize several FNS nutrition assistance programs in action and learn how FNS can support their work. New Mexico is one of the first states to offer healthy meals to all children, ensuring more kids have access to the meals they need to thrive at school and beyond.
06/23/2023
Blog
Cultural Relevance in SNAP-Ed: Let’s Get “Real”
Oklahoma Tribal Engagement Partners collaborates with sovereign tribal nations and tribal organizations throughout Oklahoma to tailor SNAP-Ed programming to meet the needs of Native families. Over time, focus groups have expressed what matters to Natives: the need to be “real.” As organizations look to develop culturally relevant programming, they must step back and listen to what matters to families.
11/02/2022
Blog
USDA Celebrates National Farmers Market Week
Secretary Thomas Vilsack has proclaimed August 7-13 as National Farmers Market Week in order to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. USDA recognizes and celebrates those that make farmers market happen, and customers that continue to support them.
08/08/2022
Blog
You Spoke, We Listened: The Challenges of Purchasing Healthy Food with SNAP Benefits
As directed by Congress in 2018, USDA is re-evaluating the Thrifty Food Plan - the estimated cost of an affordable, nutritious diet and used to calculate SNAP benefit levels. To complement the re-evaluation efforts and gather insights from those who will be impacted by the result, USDA recently hosted five listening sessions with SNAP participants, researchers, advocates and others.
08/09/2021
Blog
Farmers and Ranchers - The Foundation of our Nation’s Nutrition Assistance Programs
You may be familiar with Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” speech that he delivered to the FFA Convention in November 1978. What he said then still rings true today. He describes the hard work and sacrifices as well as the gentle family spirit and sense of community that farmers and ranchers have provided from generation to generation across our great country.
10/11/2019
Blog
Seven Ways Farm to School Can Make You ‘Cool’
As we celebrate Farm to School Month this October, we can all feel the temperatures cooling down with the fall season. Here are seven ways USDA’s Farm to School Program can make your school and community ‘cooler’ throughout the year!
10/03/2019
Blog
Innovation and Collaboration Bring Summer Meals to Children in Rural Texas
Children’s nutritional needs do not take a summer break. This summer, FNS partnered with the Texas Department of Agriculture and Baylor University’s Texas Hunger Initiative to help keep Texas children in several low-income rural areas fed during the summer through a summer meals demonstration project.
08/15/2019
Blog
Just Announced ‘Turnip the Beet’ Awards Recognize High-Quality Summer Meals
As school years draw to a close and summer breaks begin, USDA is pleased to announce the third annual Turnip the Beet awardees. These awards recognize outstanding summer meal program sponsors who distinguished themselves with high quality meals that are appetizing, appealing, and wholesome.
06/18/2019
Blog
Louisiana Tour Highlights Making a Difference One Meal and One Life at a Time
During a recent visit to Louisiana, I had the opportunity to see several FNS programs in action. I gained greater insight on the different ways FNS is helping Americans find a path to self-sufficiency, while providing access to food through FNS’ nutrition programs to people who need it most.
06/10/2019
Blog
FNS’ Role in Disaster Response
Ensuring access to nutritious food is critically important when emergencies and disasters happen. Food and Nutrition Service is prepared to work with states and with other federal agencies to support both immediate response and longer-term recovery efforts.
05/10/2019
Page updated: February 25, 2021