Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has awarded $31.5 million in funding to local, state and national organizations to support programs that help participants in SNAP increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables.

In a speech at the National Farmers Union Convention today, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of $96.8 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to support specialty crop producers, local food entrepreneurs, and farm to school efforts, which in turn will increase access to healthy, nutritious food for American families and children.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced additional support for schools working to serve school children healthy meals with the nationwide expansion of the Team Up for School Nutrition Success Initiative. The initiative will provide school nutrition personnel across the country tailored technical assistance and peer to peer mentoring. 

Continuing USDA’s focus on childhood hunger during National Nutrition Month, Administrator Audrey Rowe today announced  USDA 2015 goal of serving 200 million meals to children and teens in low-income communities this summer – 14 million more than were served in 2014. 

In a speech at the 2015 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference today about the extent of childhood hunger in America and the impact of USDA programs on reducing food insecurity, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $27 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed help end childhood hunger. The announcement was part of USDA efforts during National Nutrition Month to focus on poverty and food insecurity among children, especially in rural areas.