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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Food security and nutrition

Mar 11, 2024 - Discusses rural Illinois food deserts and the rise of community-owned cooperative stores. Notes the challenges for rural cooperative development including community buy-in, competition with large chains, funding, and more.
Source: Barn Raising Media
Feb 20, 2024 - Discusses the opening of an additional distribution site for a Pennsylvania organization offering weekend meals to students. The new site will allow for easier access to rural students, described as a barrier for the main distribution center previously.
Source: The Tribune-Democrat
Feb 20, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announcing the adjusted income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and free milk through the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. In 2024, states and Indian Tribal Organizations that administer the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program will also begin to use these guidelines. These guidelines are applicable from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 15, 2024 - Announces a proposal to increase representation of Alaska Tribal members on the Federal Subsistence Board. Discusses the role subsistence practices play in the nutritional needs for Alaska Tribal members.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Feb 14, 2024 - Highlights priority areas from across the federal government for increasing equity for rural, tribal, and other underserved communities. Includes actions to address maternal health outcomes, food insecurity, environmental health, mental health support services for students, community development, and more.
Source: The White House
Feb 13, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announcing the adjusted income eligibility guidelines for States to use to determine the income eligibility of applicants to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These guidelines are applicable July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 13, 2024 - Discusses a Minnesota initiative to increase diversity in farming, address access to healthy food and health equity, and improve economic opportunities in rural areas.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Feb 10, 2024 - Profiles a food bank offering a mobile food pantry to serve rural areas in North Dakota.
Source: Minot Daily News
Jan 31, 2024 - Announces a new 2 year initiative to combat food insecurity in rural Iowa and Wisconsin. The initiative plans to increase work at existing food pantries and add food pantries to communities without them.
Source: Ottumwa Radio
Jan 19, 2024 - Announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service of the annual adjustments to reimbursement rates for the Summer Food Service Program for Children. The rates are effective January 1, 2024.
Source: Federal Register