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Para abordar aún más la inseguridad alimentaria en Puerto Rico y proporcionar recursos más equitativos a lugares remotos, el Servicio de Alimentos y Nutrición (FNS) del USDA proporcionará un mayor beneficio a las familias de Puerto Rico, en comparación con el territorio continental de los EE.UU., a través del nuevo y permanente programa de nutrición de verano para niños - conocido como Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios de Verano (EBT de verano).

To further address food insecurity in Puerto Rico and provide more equitable resources to remote locations, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service will provide a higher benefit to Puerto Rico families, as compared to the U.S. mainland, through the new, permanent summer nutrition program for children – known as Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer. 

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of FNS awarded the District of Columbia Department of Human Services $904,859 to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The Southeast Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service awarded the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services $673,775  to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The Southeast Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service awarded the South Carolina Department of Social Services $1,006,468 to enhance efficiency and access in SNAP.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has awarded the Mississippi Department of Human Services $421,471 to help improve their recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts by implementing principles from the SNAP Fraud Framework.

USDA announced that low-income Tennessee residents in 10 counties (Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton, and Wayne) recovering from tornadoes and severe storms that began on March 31, 2023, could be eligible for a helping hand from USDA’s D-SNAP.

USDA announced that low-income Mississippi residents in six counties (Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, and Sharkey) due to the impact of severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began on March 24, 2023, could be eligible for USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Approximately 7,000 families in Cross and Pulaski County affected by recent tornadoes and severe storms will soon be able to receive food packages containing nutritious, high-quality foods that are 100% grown and produced on farms in the U.S. – known as USDA Foods. USDA approved the short-term measure to address an immediate need for food until a longer-term solution is ready to be put in place.

FNS is increasing the reimbursement rates that child nutrition program operators receive for meals served in Puerto Rico from 17% to 30% above the contiguous United States (CONUS) rates. The increased rates will also apply to Hawaii, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands as those locations also face unique hurdles associated with obtaining ingredients and getting needed supplies in island economies.

USDA FNS Mid-Atlantic Region announced today that Delaware is one of 14 states that have been selected to participate in the expansion of a demonstration project to evaluate the impact of using Medicaid eligibility data to directly certify students from low-income households to receive free and reduced-price school meals.

USDA FNS Mid-Atlantic Region announced today that Pennsylvania is one of 14 states that have been selected to participate in the expansion of a demonstration project to evaluate the impact of using Medicaid eligibility data to directly certify students from low-income households to receive free and reduced-price school meals.

USDA FNS Southeast Region announced today Georgia and Tennessee are two of 14 states that have been selected to participate in the expansion of a demonstration project to evaluate the impact of using Medicaid eligibility data to directly certify students from low-income households to receive free and reduced-price school meals. 

USDA is partnering with Washington, D.C., to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy and nutritious food in underserved communities and in schools. The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.

USDA is aiding recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Fiona. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and communities in need.

USDA reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Ian that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices stand ready and are eager to help.

El Servicio de Alimentos y Nutrición (Food and Nutrition Service o FNS, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Agricultura Estadounidense (USDA) continúa colaborando con la isla de Puerto Rico para abordar las necesidades de los residentes luego de azotar el Huracán Fiona.