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Secretary Tom Vilsack joined President Barack Obama in Fresno, Calif., today to announce that the USDA will provide additional assistance to help farmers, ranchers and residents affected by severe drought in California. At President Obama's direction, USDA has made implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill livestock disaster assistance programs a top priority and plans to have the programs available for sign up by April 15, 2014.

A USDA evaluation released today examines the impact of a new alternative delivery method for providing low-income children with access to food during the summer months when school meals are not available. USDA has set a goal of serving 5 million more meals to eligible children this summer.

Hoy el secretario de Agricultura Tom Vilsack dio inicio a la Semana Nacional del Programa de Servicio de Alimentos de Verano, reiterando el compromiso del USDA de asegurar que ningún niño pase hambre cuando no hay escuela y resaltando el progreso hacia la meta de servir 5 millones de comidas más a los niños elegibles en todo el país.

Today, Secretary Vilsack kicked off National Summer Food Service Program Week by reiterating USDA's commitment to ensuring that no child goes hungry when school is out and highlighting progress towards USDA's goal of serving 5 million more meals to eligible kids across the country.

Secretary Vilsack today highlighted the problem of increased childhood hunger during months when school is not in session. At an event at Colina Del Sol Recreation Center, he called on communities across the country to partner with USDA's Summer Food Service Program to ensure that no child goes hungry when school is out. Vilsack reiterated the vital role of partners in reaching eligible children and their families and challenged them to help USDA serve 5 million more meals this summer.

Secretary Vilsack today called on communities across the country to partner with USDA's summer meals program to ensure that no child goes hungry when school is out.

Students at elementary schools participating in USDA’s FFVP consumed 15 percent more fruits and vegetables, based on an agriculture department study released today.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the second annual Summer Food Service Program Week to promote access to healthy meals when schools close for the summer. During the June 11-15 awareness campaign, USDA and its partners will redouble efforts to emphasize the important nutrition benefits offered through SFSP and other healthy meal options available for low-income young people across the nation.

Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced significant investments in states and tribal areas across the country to test innovative ways to address a critical need – providing low-income children with access to healthy nutrition during the summer.

Today, FNS announced the winners of the first ever SFSP "Food, Fun and Sun!" story and photo contest to highlight how the program provides free, healthy meals to children in low-income areas during the summer. 

USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today highlighted the results of two Summer Food Service Program pilot programs in Arkansas and Mississippi that used incentives to increase participation among low-income children. The study found that the innovative pilot programs were associated with an increased average participation rate among kids in the Summer Food Service Programs by 35 percent in Arkansas and 19 percent in Mississippi.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Audrey Rowe yesterday announced the winner of First Lady Michelle Obama's Recipes for Healthy Kids competition. The contest launched last year to challenge students, parents and other interested community members to create tasty and healthy new recipes for America's school cafeteria menus.

FNS today launched a photo contest to look for and promote best practices in the Summer Food Service Program. The competition is open to sponsors and sites participating in the SFSP, which provides free, healthy meals to children in low-income areas during the summer.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service and FNS will conduct a pilot for acquiring fresh fruits and vegetables to build on farm-to-school programs in Florida and Michigan. The pilot will use commercial distribution models already in place and allow schools to obtain locally grown produce.

FNS Administrator Audrey Rowe joined D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and Office of the State Superintendent of Education representatives at the 8th Annual "Free Summer Meals Kick off", a celebration of USDA's Summer Food Service Program in the District of Columbia. 

FNCS Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton addressed the need for more Summer Food Service Program sites across the country to feed low-income children when school is out while attending the 2011 Wyoming School Nutrition Association Conference .

USDA announced today that Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee were selected to participate in the initial year of an innovative universal free meal service option that makes it easier for low-income children to receive meals in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. 

Secretary Tom Vilsack today joined Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and No Kid Hungry National Campaign spokesperson Jeff Bridges to launch the Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaign, a public-private partnership that will work to connect Virginia's children and teens to school breakfast and child care nutrition programs, including summer meal programs.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked-off the first-ever National Summer Food Service Program Week:“Food That's In When School Is Out,” a week-long awareness campaign to promote USDA’s Summer Food Service Program and other initiatives across the country to feed low-income children during summer when school is out.

Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced that more low-income kids will have access to nutrition assistance when school is out and during critical gap periods. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service provided waivers to simplify existing regulations making it easier to provide critical meals through the Summer Food Service Program. The changes will expand and enhance the ability of the SFSP to provide nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months and long vacation periods for schools on year-round schedules.