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FNCS Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the accomplishments of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service in 2018, from common-sense flexibilities for school meal providers to the agency’s vigorous response to provide food to the victims of coast-to-coast natural disasters.

FNS has selected Kansas State University to direct the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs. The research resulting from this partnership will help improve food safety across all of USDA’s child nutrition programs, which serve billions of meals to children each year.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center at the University of Kentucky awarded $1.3 million in grants to help reduce child food insecurity in 17 rural communities. The funding, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, will help these rural communities implement creative strategies to improve access to federal nutrition assistance for families and children. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a panel discussion on the current state of food and nutrition in America hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

In a speech at the National Farmers Union Convention today, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of $96.8 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to support specialty crop producers, local food entrepreneurs, and farm to school efforts, which in turn will increase access to healthy, nutritious food for American families and children.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that up to $2.5 million is available to establish the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center. This competitive grant is part of USDA's efforts to reduce childhood food insecurity in rural communities in America.

Undersecretary Kevin Concannon today announced the release of a Request for Applications from states interested in participating in the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today joined tribal leaders from across the nation at the National Congress of American Indians to announce investments in positive nutrition education and physical activity habits that can lead to healthier lifestyles. The grants are funded through USDA's Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and will provide nutrition education materials and resources for children and parents in tribal communities in 9 states.

A game that encourages kids to learn healthy eating habits and ski with their digital creature in the living room, another that challenges gamers to stack food without breaking a virtual scale, and an app that pairs physical activity with food choices – like 2600 sit-ups to offset an afternoon candy bar – are among those recognized today in the culmination of the $60,000 Apps for Healthy Kids challenge.