USDA nutrition incentives aim to improve access to healthy food 

The USDA says it is investing more than $52 million to improve dietary health and access to fresh fruits and vegetables for eligible families.  

The funds support efforts across three National Institute of Food and Agriculture competitive grant programs that make up the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, according to a news release. The program is named in honor of the former USDA undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services. 

“USDA is delivering on its promise to bolster food and nutrition security for underserved communities,” Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education and economics,  said in the release. “Investments like this enable people to afford and eat healthy fresh fruits and vegetables so they don’t have to make a choice between healthy eating and cheaper less healthier options.”  

GusNIP’s three grant programs include Nutrition Incentive, Produce Prescription and the Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation and Information Center. By bringing together stakeholders from various parts of the food and health care systems, GusNIP projects help foster understanding to improve the health and nutritional status of participating households, facilitate growth in underrepresented communities and geographies, and aggregate data to identify and improve best practices on a broad scale, according to the release.  

“GusNIP has provided over $270 million in funding to nearly 200 projects throughout the U.S. since its 2019 launch and participants are consistently reporting increased fruit and vegetable intake as a result,” NIFA Director Manjit Misra said in the release. “This latest round of funding only strengthens the impacts these programs are having nationwide.”  

Nineteen awardees are receiving GusNIP Nutrition Incentive funding totaling $41.8million. Nutrition Incentive projects increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by providing incentives at the point of purchase among income-eligible households participating in the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, the release said.

Produce Prescription awards account for $5.2 million to 11 awardees. These projects demonstrate and evaluate the impact of fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions, according to the release. The goals of the program are to increase procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce individual and household food insecurity and reduce health care use and associated costs, the release said.

One awardee is receiving $7 million through the NTAE Center program. NTAE projects offer training, technical assistance, evaluation and informational support services, the release said.