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At the 2023 White House Tribal Youth Summit, USDA offers new resources to inspire Native American youth to explore Indigenous foodways and knowledge and highlight career paths at USDA and beyond. These efforts are part of USDA’s commitment to empowering tribal self-determination and bringing Indigenous perspectives into agriculture, food, and nutrition.

Families affected by severe storms in the areas of Johnson, Ludlow, Hardwick, Barre/Berlin/ Montpelier/Northfield, and Chester 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.

The administration is equipping emergency food providers with significant levels of investments so they can continue serving their communities well through ongoing and evolving challenges. These investments focus on additional food purchases, improving infrastructure, supporting health and nutrition, bolstering local food systems, and promoting access and equity to continue to drive toward a stronger tomorrow.

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.

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.

FNS continues to work with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to address the needs of island residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona.

FNS awarded over $39 million in grants to 38 state agencies to improve TEFAP reach into remote, rural, tribal, and/or low-income areas that are underserved by the program.

USDA today announced assistance to help schools respond to supply chain disruptions, as part of a comprehensive set of investments to address challenges in American agriculture today. This is the latest example of the ongoing support USDA is providing schools and states as they to adapt to the ever-changing pandemic situation while working to ensure children receive nutritious school meals.

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a 23% increase, or $463.8 million in annual funding for nutrition assistance in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.  In fiscal year 2022, which starts Oct. 1, 2021, the Commonwealth will receive $2.5 billion grant for the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). In fiscal year 2021, Puerto Rico received $2.038 billion for NAP. 

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service announced a 23% increase, or $1.86 million in annual nutrition assistance for American Samoa. In fiscal year 2022, which starts Oct. 1, 2021, the territory will receive $10.047 million grant for the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). In fiscal year 2021, American Samoa received $8.185 million for NAP.  

USDA announced it will purchase up to $159.4 million in domestically produced seafood, fruits, legumes, and nuts for distribution to a variety of domestic food assistance programs, including charitable institutions. This is one of many actions USDA is taking to address the disruptions in the food system supply chain and worsened food insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the USDA is increasing food assistance to low-income seniors – a population that has been especially hard-hit by the pandemic – by providing nearly $37 million in additional support to CSFP.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking comments on a Department-wide effort to improve and reimagine the supply chains for the production, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products.

In January 2021, President Biden released the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. The plan is driven by science, data, and public health to improve the effectiveness of our nation’s fight against COVID-19 and to restore trust, accountability and a sense of common purpose in our response to the pandemic.

USDA and the Biden-Harris administration are committed to ensuring that all struggling families can get the nutritious food they need.

Secretary Perdue announced the USDA will purchase an additional $1.5 billion worth of food for nationwide distribution through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

In partnership with tribes across the country, the USDA announced additional food for families in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased food assistance will temporarily supplement the monthly food package FDPIR households currently receive.

Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today that the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program has distributed more than 20 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.