Managing Editor Nutrition incentive programs provide additional food dollars to help low-income shoppers purchase a greater amount of fruits and vegetables.
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and FMI-The Food Industry Association have released an open letter to food retailers, grocery wholesalers, national and state associations, and nutrition incentive program providers, requesting them to unite behind a new initiative to collaborate with point-of-sale (POS) system developers in creating retail transaction and reporting solutions for nutrition incentive programs.
“We encourage all industry leaders to consider signing on to this call to action expressing your interest in the creation of industry-wide POS solutions for nutrition incentive transactions,” said Ted Mason, project director for the NGA Foundation Technical Assistance Center (NGAF TAC). “We hope our leaders will step up to help educate fellow retailers, wholesalers and POS developers about n
At the farmers market, doubling oneâs money has been a literal possibility that helped more families access fresh produce at a time of mounting job loss and rising food insecurity in the country.
This season, the Coastside Farmers Market saw an increase in its matching programs that essentially doubled the $55,000 shoppers had in hand into about $110,000 they could actually spend on produce. That seemingly magical conversion was possible through two programs that the farmers market administers.
The first is Market Match, which doubles the money granted through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is known in the state as CalFresh. The other program is the Coastside Farmers Marketâs own creation called the Local Match program, which allows individuals unable to access CalFresh to experience the same benefits of the doubled dollar.
More COVID-19 Relief on its Way to U S Agriculture agweb.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from agweb.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
December 23, 2020
The U.S. House and Senate reached agreement on a $908 billion COVID-19 stimulus package that will bring a desperately needed financial infusion into the U.S. fresh produce and floral industries. While the President initially indicated he would sign it, yesterday he criticized the coronavirus relief deal and called for changes.
“This funding infusion is desperately needed by our industry, which has been devastated by business closures and lost markets, Richard Owen, legislative and regulatory affairs team lead for PMA, said when the deal was announced by Congress. For some businesses, it’s already too late. But we are now focused on strengthening all sectors of the industry for a recovery period in 2021. This funding serves as an important bridge and we are grateful to Congress for recognizing the need.”
Congress has reached agreement on a huge combined fiscal year 2021 omnibus appropriations bill and coronavirus aid package that includes various forms of aid to farmers, an increase of 15% in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for six months, and other nutrition assistance.
After Congress passed a 24-hour continuing resolution Sunday to fund the government though midnight tonight, the House is expected to vote on the package today.
It’s not yet clear whether the Senate will vote on the package today or whether Congress will pass a week-long continuing resolution to allow the Senate to vote at a more leisurely pace and send the package to President Donald Trump.