Friday, September 6

USDA: food insecurity in the US

Baton Rouge, LA- On Sept. 4, 2013, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a statement about Household Food Security in the United States as of 2012, based on the USDA Economic Research Service analysis. The report underscores the importance of programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that have helped keep food insecurity from rising, even during the economic recession. Vilsack vouched that “…USDA will continue to deliver a strong nutrition program with an error rate that is at a historic low."

This fall, the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s Nutrition and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAPEd) team is implementing gardens across the state. Residents of Avoyelles, St. Landry, Evangeline, East Baton Rouge, East and West Carroll Parishes are among those using the program to reduce food insecurity. Each garden is tied into Nutrition Education classes encouraging youth and adults to each fresh produce, especially to grow the fruits and vegetables by themselves.

The SNAP program at SU Ag Center is led by De’Shoin York-Friendship.  For further details, contact Friendship at 225-771-2582 or via email deshoin_york@suagcenter.com.

The ERS’s definition: “Food security means access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.” An estimated 14.5 percent of American households were food insecure at least some time during the year in 2012, meaning they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. For the full story, follow the link to read Household Food Security in the United States.

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Contact:        
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
bridget_udoh@suagcenter.com

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