SitemapThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has
awarded a $498,880 grant to encourage people receiving assistance from the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase healthier foods.
The
office of Congressman Tim Ryan announced on Monday that the USDA approved a
proposal from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation to provide
incentives for people participating in SNAP to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
The “Eating for Health in the Mahoning Valley” project is designed to increase
food access in the Mahoning Valley by broadening funding to help SNAP/EBT
customers purchase fresh produce at six farmers markets and local food outlets,
according to a news release. The grant also expands the Mercy Health Fruit and Vegetable
Prescription Program. “The 4-year project supported by Mercy Health Foundation
and includes over 15 project partners working together to support families
while increasing revenues to local farmers," said Liberty Avila, Land
Reuse Director at Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. The money
was awarded as a part of a larger $16.8 million investment by the USDA to be
distributed through 32 grants to help SNAP participants increase their purchases
of fruits and vegetables. The program is operated by the USDA National Institute
of Food and Agriculture. The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition
Incentive program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. To read the full story from WFMJ, click here.