USDA works to improve food, nutrition education
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced support to develop local and self-reliant food systems, such as farm-to-table enterprises that bring nutritious food to low-income communities.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced support to develop local and self-reliant food systems, such as farm-to-table enterprises that bring nutritious food to low-income communities. This funding is available through NIFA’s Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“This program reaches into neighborhoods across America to improve access to food and nutrition education, assist community outreach, and empower local farms,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. “These NIFA investments help communities develop field-to-fork food systems that provide long-term community solutions.”
The primary goals of the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFP) are to meet the food needs of low-income individuals, increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their food needs, promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues, and meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs. Grants aim to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system and foster understanding of national food security trends and how they might improve local food systems.
In fiscal year 2017, 35 grants totaling $8.6 million were awarded through the CFP program. One of the new projects, the Waimanalo Market Co-op in Waimanalo, Hawaii, will involve connecting local farmers with their communities to provide better access to culturally-accepted foods, increasing the number of farmers, and educating citizens about eating healthier by making better food choices.