As 2012 came to a close, I decided to set what I believed to be an achievable goal for my New Year’s Resolution: to complete one personal “challenge” each month in 2013. For February (yes—the shortest month), I took on the “food stamp challenge,” for two reasons: To gain a better appreciation for how difficult… Continue Reading
The oppotunity to cut from the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program could put the Farm Bill on the agenda of the lame duck Congress, some agricultural interests say. The 2008 Farm Bill expired Oct. 1, and Congress recessed for the elections without agreement on the 2012 update. Congressional leaders need to decide pretty quickly whether the… Continue Reading
Healthy food doesn’t have to be expensive. That’s the message of a new guide to eating well on a budget released by the Environmental Working Group today. The guide – “Good Food on a Tight Budget” – is designed to debunk the popular belief that low-income families can’t afford to eat healthily. While many nutrition… Continue Reading
Opinion
As expected, the House version of the 2012 Farm Bill contains deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called food stamps). With its $16 billion proposed cut in this critical safety net, the House leadership is about three times as cruel as the Senate, which already approved a $4.5 billion reduction over… Continue Reading
If the USDA wants us to “eat healthy” by filling up half of our plates with fruits and vegetables, then why does the Senate’s proposed version of the 2012 Farm Bill continue to pour so many taxpayer dollars into programs that benefit farms that grow the crops so widely used in processed foods that some nutritionists… Continue Reading
The “Dakota Queen,” piloted by George McGovern, had been hit hard by enemy fire while over the Skoda works at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia – a facility that produced arms for the Nazis. One engine had fallen off and the other was in flames. The plane was going down. McGovern quickly launched his bombs, turned the plane… Continue Reading
Farmers’ markets have not traditionally been a go-to source of food for those enrolled in nutrition assistance programs. But with a new grant to help states bring wireless technology to these venues, the Obama administration hopes to make it possible for more farmers to redeem food vouchers from customers. The $4 million in funding… Continue Reading
This week Congress begins hearings on the 2012 farm bill, the massive piece of legislation that gets updated about every five years and undergirds America’s entire food supply, but that few mortals can even understand. As nutrition professor Marion Nestle recently lamented, “no one has any idea what the farm bill is about. It’s too… Continue Reading
At a time when more and more people are relying on nutrition assistance programs, the government is signaling its commitment to improving these initiatives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Friday awarded $2.2 million in grants that will help it evaluate and enhance its food assistance programs. The money was divided between 10 research projects in… Continue Reading
As hunger continues to be an increasing problem nationwide, some college campuses are opening food banks to help the growing number of students in need. “Food Pantries on college campuses are unique because they seek an underserved population of students that many people may not be aware is struggling,” said Laura Pick, a graduate… Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the release of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at Farmers Markets: A How-To Handbook. The handbook provides farmers market managers with step-by-step directions on how to install Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) machines and accept SNAP benefits. Agriculture Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Edward M. Avalos… Continue Reading