USDA Blog

Watch a video from the White House event Given that many children eat as many as two meals a day at school, it’s pretty clear that schools have a vital role to play if we’re going to combat the disturbing rise in childhood obesity we’ve seen in recent years. Just as clear is that schools...

During tough times families can find it increasingly difficult to prepare cost-friendly meals. The SNAP-Ed Connection provides tools and resources to health educators that help dispel low income families make healthy eating an attainable goal. One of those tools is the recipe finder, an online tool...

Tough economic conditions can make it difficult to access healthy, fresh, and affordable produce. That's why USDA is pleased to announce this year’s grants recipients of the Farmers Market Promotion Program. This important program provides grants to local farmers and producers so they can grow their...

The Request for Application for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) is now available, and applications are due by November 22, 2011. Projects will be awarded in 2012 and performed between October 2012 and September 2013. Approximately $19 million is expected to be available...

We know that a healthy nation starts with healthy people. A good diet helps kids stay active and focused at school. And staying healthy can increase your productivity on the job. But sometimes families who want to make healthier eating choices are confused by conflicting messages, or don't have time...

Urban agriculture and gardening can be an important tool in confronting several key challenges that Americans face: from supporting farm viability in and around urban areas to improving access to healthful, affordable food to realizing the potential of rural-urban linkages.

How worried should Charlie Brown be? Is there any truth to what some are calling the Great Pumpkin Shortage? After Hurricane Irene pummeled and soaked the Northeast, the media began reporting that damage to the pumpkin crop portended a general shortage of pumpkins for the Halloween season and beyond...

This week, USDA was recognized at the 3 rd Annual Feds Feed Families Closing Ceremony at the Pentagon. Employees around the country started over 2,000 food drives that led the department to contribute the most pounds per employee of any federal department or agency: almost 15 pounds per employee for...

USDA employees raised about 40 semi-trailers worth of food nationwide during the 3 rd annual Feds Feed Families Food Drive! Put another way, 40 semi-trailers is equivalent to an astonishing 1,791,393 pounds of food. This number shattered USDA’s already ambitious goal of raising 500,000 pounds of...

Fresh and healthy foods are the focus again as we celebrate National School Lunch Week. The theme of this year’s celebration is “School Lunch – Let’s Grow Healthy,” and schools across the country are touting the many ways they are introducing fresh fruits and vegetables and healthier choices on...