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Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

Dec 3, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) proposing updates the methodology for calculating the cost adjustment in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for Hawaii. The proposed change to determine the cost adjustment would incorporate food prices from throughout the State of Hawaii rather than from Honolulu alone, ensuring that SNAP benefit allotments better reflect food prices faced by participants throughout the State of Hawaii. Comments are due by February 3, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Dec 3, 2024 - Highlights a program in a remote Alaskan village high school giving students experience with growing fresh food and food sovereignty for the community. Discusses program funding, challenges with access to vegetables in remote Alaska, and the importance of fresh vegetables for healthy living.
Source: Alaska Public Media, PBS, NPR
Nov 1, 2024 - Announces newly awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant Program to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the country. Describes projects in numerous states which will support the development or expansion of healthy food retail or food retail supply chain projects.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Oct 31, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) making access and parity improvements in USDA's food distribution programs to support access for eligible populations and streamline requirements for program operators. Among other things, changes are aimed at increasing access to food distribution programs so eligible individuals can more easily receive the nutrition resources they need, increasing parity between FDPIR and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), modernizing program operations by updating some outdated terminology and processes, and incorporating lessons learned from implementing these critical programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rule is effective December 30, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 28, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeking comments on a proposed information collection related to the implementation and effectiveness of modernization projects across all 88 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) State agencies to help identify successes, opportunities for improvement, and areas for additional support from FNS to strengthen project implementation. Comments are due by December 27, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Oct 25, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeking comments on a new information collection request related to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Information collection will be used to provide current, nationally representative information on FDPIR participants and local program operations across the nation. The information collection will also provide FNS with a better understanding of the reasons for the decline in FDPIR participation and how to streamline and target food and nutrition education efforts, funding, and policy changes. Comments are due by December 24, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Last Updated: 12/4/2024