Overview of Issues

Achievements

Action Alerts

Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS)

On Thursday, June 11, the Michigan Senate voted to cut funding for the MASS.  MASS is a partnership between Michigan food banks, the agricultural community and the Michigan Department of Agriculture that provides a means for collecting and distributing surplus Michigan-grown agricultural produce.  Annually, nearly six million pounds of food are distributed to local pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that would otherwise go to waste or end up in a landfill.

A House version of the appropriations bill will be voted on in the upcoming weeks.  Anyone interested in preserving this program should contact his or her State Representative by Tuesday, June 30, 2009 and ask them to restore funding for MASS.  To email Representatives and the Governor, please click on the link below and follow the instructions. https://secure2.convio.net/fbcm/site/Advocacy?id=115&pagename=homepage

Child Nutrition Reauthorization

The USDA is preparing for the 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.  The reauthorization process provides Congress with a regular opportunity to examine the operation and effectiveness of the Federal nutrition assistance programs, and consider making improvements to their statutory structure under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.

United States Department of Agriculture Issues New WIC packages: Fruits and Vegetables Will Support Good Health and Healthy Communities - http://frac.org/pdf/WIC_fruitandvegetable.pdf

Issue Alerts

Analysis, Reports, Pamphlets and Other Information

United States Department of Agriculture – WIC Fact Sheet

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/WIC-Fact-Sheet.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture – Serving Migrants in the WIC Program

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/ServingMigrantsinWIC.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture – WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Fact Sheet

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/WIC-FMNP-Fact-Sheet.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture – WIC Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Fact Sheet

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SFMNP-Fact-Sheet.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture – CSFP Commodity Fact Sheets/Recipes

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/csfp/cfs_csfp.htm

United States Department of Agriculture – TEFAP Commodity Fact Sheets/Recipes

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/cfs_tefap.htm

Food Research and Action Center – Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program

http://www.frac.org/html/federal_food_programs/programs/tefap.html

Food Research and Action Center – Child Nutrition Fact Sheet: CACFP

http://frac.org/pdf/cncacfp.PDF

Food Research and Action Center – Child Nutrition Fact Sheet: WIC

http://frac.org/pdf/cnwic.pdf

Useful Links & Resources

How to Apply for WIC – United States Department of Agriculture

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/howtoapply/default.htm

Eligibility and Applying for CSFP – United States Department of Agriculture

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/csfp/csfp_eligibility.htm

Eligibility and Applying for TEFAP – United States Department of Agriculture

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/tefap_eligibility.htm

CACFP Income Eligibility Guidelines – United States Department of Agriculture

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/notices/iegs/IEGs.htm