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Last week, Secretary Vilsack announced a new toolkit to help communities and businesses evaluate the economic benefits of investing in local food systems. Using real-world projects, experiences, and applied research, The Economics of Local Food Systems provides usable assessment methods that can be utilized by policy makers, community leaders, private businesses, or foundations to help them decide whether to invest in increased local food activity. As part of President Obama's historic trip to Cuba, Secretary Vilsack used his second trip to Cuba to discuss opportunities for collaboration in agriculture between the U.S. and Cuba, to better understand how climate change is affecting Cuban agricultural production and to continue to build ties that strengthen the prospect of U.S. exports to the region. We believe the key to a long and prosperous relationship between the United States and Cuba will rely on increased people-to-people relations—starting with food.
Protecting Your Family from Food Spoilage USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute developed FoodKeeper, an online and mobile application for Android and Apple devices that can help users maximize the freshness and quality of items by showing the appropriate storage methods for more than 400 items. Every community wants to support initiatives that promote economic growth and create new jobs, but sometimes it can be hard to decide on the best way to accomplish these goals. Now, these communities can use The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide Community Discussions, Assessments and Choices to understand the economic case for investments in local food. Since the economic downturn of 2008, sufficient access to healthy foods has been a serious problem for many Americans. As a result, more than 17 million households confront hunger throughout the year while more than 12 million children are obese. That’s why USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) worked with five other USDA agencies to develop the National Nutrition Research Roadmap (NNRR). The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) helps build a foundation of healthy eating that continues for a lifetime. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife recognized Burchel Blevins as “Landowner of the Year” in Kentucky’s southeast region, citing his continued dedication to conservation maintenance, improving wildlife habitat – as well as improving education, outreach and recreational activities. King Whetstone, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Northeastern Regional Field Office in Harrisburg, PA, discusses how his meetings with stakeholders and participation at multidisciplinary meetings helps him better understand what is happening in American agriculture; what matters to people who rely on agriculture; and how NASS can provide the data needed to help make sure American agriculture remains healthy and prosperous. In Indian Country, culture and tradition are sustained through shared meals with family and the community. Traditional foods, such as bison and blue cornmeal, are a powerful way for each new generation to connect with and honor its history and its ancestors. Back at the turn of the 20th Century Gifford Pinchot and John Muir had radically contrasting views of how to manage America’s wild lands and they worked tirelessly lobbying Congress and convincing Presidents to agree with them to start protecting open space. According to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 30 percent of Hispanic households with children are food insecure, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to healthy food. Many of the options that are available to these families do not meet the standard requirements for a sufficient healthy, balanced diet. The U.S. Forest Service joined the international community in celebrating World Water Day on March 22. Forests are essential to our survival and well-being due in large part to the ecosystem services they provide, including keeping waterways clean and healthy. While strategies to reduce childhood obesity include improving diet and increasing exercise, USDA scientists are looking for ways to prevent behaviors in children that may lead to obesity. A recent report from the Food and Nutrition Service, WIC Participant and Program Characteristics 2014, shows that breastfeeding is on the rise among WIC participants, with the proportion of breastfeeding postpartum mothers exceeding that of non-breastfeeding postpartum mothers, continuing the trend first exhibited in 2012. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) commemorated the United Nations’ fourth annual International Day of Forests on March 21 by celebrating the important and diverse contributions of the world’s forests. Bison farmer Bobbi Lester cares for the land with just as much passion and love as her father. As a little girl growing up on the ranch in southern Delaware, she remembers learning the ropes of bison farming, often traveling with him to regional and national bison conferences. West Texans fighting food insecurity have a new resource to combat hunger, a new 60,000 square foot food bank opened recently in Odessa that replaces the East 2nd Street building. The MyPlate, MyWins Challenge is one of several challenges available through MyPlate Challenges, USDA’s new online challenge platform that encourages healthy eating and physical activity through friendly competition. The USDA Caribbean Climate Hub, located at the U.S. Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico, is partnering with Universities and farmers in the U.S. Caribbean to release ADAPTA, a series of demonstration projects that communicate the best adaptive practices available to tropical producers. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service recently released some of its Sound and Sensible organic certification materials in Spanish for the increasing number of Spanish speaking farmers and businesses in the organic sector.
Putting Fresh Produce in the Supermarket Checkout Aisle? Broadcast Date: Thu, March 24, 2016 Would you buy more fruits and vegetables if they were right there in the supermarket checkout aisle? (Gary Crawford, Collin Payne and Jeff Foxworthy) Broadcast Date: Thu, March 24, 2016 Can shoppers in a supermarket be nudged to buy more healthful foods? (Gary Crawford, Collin Payne and Jeff Foxworthy) Broadcast Date: Wed, March 23, 2016 An announcement coming out of the President's trip to Cuba could pave the way for a time when the trade embargo is lifted. (Gary Crawford and Sec'y Tom Vilsack) Broadcast Date: Wed, March 23, 2016 President Obama says Argentina and the U.S. are paving the way for more trade between the two nations. (Gary Crawford and President Barack Obama) Broadcast Date: Mon, March 21, 2016 The President says the agricultural sector could play a major role in speeding the lifting of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba. (Gary Crawford and President Barack Obama) Broadcast Date: Fri, March 18, 2016 U.S. supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership continue to press for Congressional action on the deal before the end of the year. (Gary Crawford and Sec'y Tom Vilsack) Broadcast Date: Fri, March 18, 2016 A top USDA conservation official says more can be done to promote and explain the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. (Rod Bain and Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller)
Cuba's Organic Revolution: Coming to Your Fridge? (Mother Jones) When President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Cuba since the revolution earlier this week, he brought along a veritable army of representatives of US business interests—including agribusiness lobbyists. Upcoming changes to the Iowa City Farmers’ Market will put fresh food within the reach of low-income shoppers. Starting in May, consumers at the market will be able to use credit cards and electronic benefit transfer cards to make purchases through a token system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released data showing Rhode Island has the greatest percentage of school districts nationwide participating in farm-to-school meal programs. The number of schools participating in farm-to-school programs and activities is on the rise, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports. National Nutrition Month is a great time to celebrate the successes achieved by the San Juan Basin Health WIC program and highlight additional regional funding received to address client’s nutritional needs. Started 50 years ago, the nation's school breakfast program was designed to alleviate hunger in children, helping students to succeed in school both academically and socially.
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