Hunger/Food/Nutrition / Public News Service

Greenhouse-grown hydroponic tomatoes use 90% less water than traditional tomato crops grown outdoors, according to the U.S. National Park Service. (Caleigh Wells)

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Future of Tomatoes in CA Drought: Hydroponic Farming?

By Caleigh Wells for KCRW.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KCRW-Public News Service Collaboration Wh…

Nearly 640,000 people were considered food insecure in Washington state in 2020, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (timonko/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

White House Convenes First Hunger Conference in 50+ Years

It's been more than 50 years since the White House held a gathering about the effects of hunger across the nation. In 1969, the White House held its …

Ohio school districts that implemented free school meals for all have reported a 20% increase in student participation. (USDA)<br />

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Ohio Education Leaders Support Free School Meals for All

Education officials in Ohio want state leaders to invest in free school meals for all students. Pandemic-era federal waivers enabling schools to …

Monday, September 26, 2022

Funding for WV Groups with Creative Ideas to Solve Child Hunger

Kids living in rural regions are more likely to experience food insecurity, and a new initiative has been launched to help West Virginia communities …

More than 726,000 people, including almost 224,000 children, are facing hunger in Indiana, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Investment to Boost Emergency Food Aid in Indiana

Amid struggles with higher food and transportation costs, fewer donations and increased demand, food banks in Indiana will soon have additional …

Grant Program to Fund Innovative Solutions to Rural Child Hunger

Child hunger is a persistent problem in California and across the U.S., especially in rural areas, and now, a new grant program will promote and fund …

Arkansas ranks fifth for the per capita number of households with children that reported not having enough food in their homes this past year, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

Group Develops Ways to Combat Rural Child Hunger

Save the Children's Rural Child Hunger Research and Innovation Lab aims to help communities design and test new, creative ways to reduce rural child …

Kids have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Advocates are in Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issues. (Sergey Novikov/Adobe Stock)

Child Advocates Meet with Leaders in DC, Call for Investments in Kids

Advocates for child well-being are in the nation's capital today, calling on lawmakers to invest in children. The Save the Children advocacy summit …

In Tennessee, more than 800,000 people are facing hunger, and more than 230,000 of them are children. (Africa Studio/AdobeStock)

Advocates Calling on Congress for Better Investment in Kids

Advocates for children's well-being are in Washington, D.C. today, calling on lawmakers to invest in kids. The Save the Children advocacy summit is …

According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, nine out of 10 counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Innovation Lab Aims to Spur Creative Solutions to End Child Hunger

A new initiative is providing funding to individuals and grassroots groups across the Commonwealth with creative solutions to reduce hunger among rura…

The Food and Drug Administration estimates that food prices have risen by 8.5% to 9.5% in 2022.(Pamela/Adobestock)

County Funding for L.A.'s Healthy-Food Vouchers May be Slashed in Half

A program to provide low-income people vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables may see its county funding cut in half at the Board of Supervisors'…

People facing hunger in Arkansas would need additional income of more than $200 million in order to actually meet their food needs, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Reduces Food Waste to Provide Hunger Relief

September is National Hunger Action Month, and groups across Arkansas are part of a nationwide push to get more people involved with reducing food …

New Mexico ranks second in the nation for childhood hunger, according to Feeding America, with one in five children, or about 20.5% of children in the state, at risk of hunger. (nokidhungry.org)

Your Chance to Help Alleviate Hunger in New Mexico

A silver lining of the pandemic was more money available to address hunger, but those funds are drying up, and many in New Mexico will struggle this …

in the late 1800s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began sending

Historic Arboretum Cracked Code to Growing in Wyoming

Before the invention of refrigerated shipping, people living across the High Plains had to grow their own food. As Europeans migrated into the region…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food pantries provided more than 60 million Americans with nutritious food. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Brings Higher Demand, Fewer Supplies for Utah Food Pantries

During the pandemic, food pantries were a lifeline for thousands of Utah families experiencing hard times. Rising inflation, however, is making it …

It's estimated that during World War II, some 20 million Americans planted

Can Municipal Canneries Make a Comeback?

It's that time of year when kitchens are bubbling over as home gardeners preserve their bounty. But there was a time when homegrown produce could be …

More than 53 million people turned to food banks, food pantries and community programs for help putting food on the table in 2021, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Pushes More Kentuckians to Rely on Food Pantries

September is Hunger Action Month, and experts say the issue of putting food on the table has never been more important, as families search for ways …

There are more than 600 food-assistance sites in Oregon and southwest Washington, according to the Oregon Food Finder website. (alhim/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Action Month Sheds Light on OR Families Still Struggling

September is National Hunger Action Month, highlighting the ways people can get involved to fight food insecurity. Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon …

More than 60,000 kids in Colorado can't afford school meals, but don't qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and two out of every five Colorado families struggle to put food on the table for their children. (Adobe Stock)

Ending School Lunchline Shaming on Colorado’s November Ballot

In November, Colorado voters will have an opportunity to end a practice known as "lunch-line shaming," which drew national attention after a Colorado …

Food banks help the one in five New Mexico children estimated to be at risk for hunger, and one in eight overall, according to Roadrunner Food Bank. (dosomething.org)

Making 'HELP' Available to New Mexico's Hungry, Food Insecure

Inflation has caused some New Mexico families, who were breaking even six months ago, to once again struggle, and groups working to alleviate hunger …

Planting native flowering plants in your yard instead of grass can help restore critical habitat for struggling pollinator species. (Adobe Stock)

Wanted: Next-Generation Beekeepers for Nebraska Farms

With the age of Nebraska's farmers and beekeepers on the rise, bee enthusiasts are encouraging more young people to check out the Great Plains Master …

According to recent USDA 'Farm to School' Census data, Minnesota schools that responded reported spending 13% of their budgets on local products. (Adobe Stock)

Disadvantaged MN Farmers to See New Business with School Meals

Farmers of color in Minnesota are expected to see new opportunities to get their products into school lunch programs. Their advocates said a major …

Some 18,000 children on average experience homelessness each year in Colorado, according to most recent Colorado Department of Education data. (Adobe Stock)

Solving Homelessness Key to Success in Multiple National Priorities

"Opportunity Starts at Home," a short documentary film released this week by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, exposes how housing …

A new report shows the meal gap in New Mexico is 43.6 million meals, according Feeding America's

Federal Pandemic Funds Reduced NM Hunger; Longterm Worries Remain

Food insecurity in New Mexico dropped during COVID, but groups working to fight hunger worry the temporary reprieve will reverse itself now that …

In a recent survey on children's well-being, Utah ranked highest among the states in the Four Corners region. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Ranks 4th Among States in Survey on Children's Well-Being

An annual report on children's well-being rates Utah among the best in the country, but advocates warn it also pointed to a growing mental-health …

The Four Leaf Clover Program is a small group making a big difference in Benson, N.C., where its volunteers organize summer day trips and provide lunches for local children. (Cleo McKinnon)<br />

Grassroots Group Offers Rural NC Kids Access to Summer Activities, Meals

Many rural North Carolina kids lack access to summer camps and consistent meals when school is out, but an organization in Benson is working to …

Save the Children staff at an elementary school in Perry County, preparing to distribute bottled water and supplies to residents. (Save the Children)

As Flood Recovery Continues, KY Kids Face Uncertain Start of School Year

Despite numerous challenges, eastern Kentucky schools and advocacy groups are working to make the upcoming school year as normal as possible and get …

In the decade preceding the pandemic, Colorado's child poverty rate fell by nearly 30%, one of the largest declines in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks High in Child Well-Being as Kids Face Mental-Health Crisis

Colorado ranks 16th in the nation for promoting children's overall well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest report on child …

Nebraska lawmakers improved conditions for low-income families during the pandemic by expanding eligibility for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, and providing support for child care. Both initiatives are set to sunset next year. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Ranks First Nationally in Child Economic Well-Being

Nebraska ranks first in the nation when it comes to promoting children's economic well-being, a significant indicator under the spotlight in the …

The Food4All Campaign began two years ago with the goal of eliminating hunger in California. (California Immigrant Policy Center)

Hunger Advocates Celebrate Progress; Vow to Continue Fight

California's new budget expands CalFresh benefits to low-income undocumented people age 55 and older, and now advocates are looking to build on their …

Washington state is the country's leading producer of apples. (Bernt Rostad/Flickr)

Groups Fill Food-Access Gaps in WA School District

When school districts are not able to provide summer-school classes, it can have a big effect on how children get meals. Case in point: the Mount …

The national infant formula shortage has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic began in 2020, when formula was among the products stockpiled by consumers.(Dirk[Beeki]Schumacher/Pixabay)<br />

States Can Make Baby Formula Easier to Get for WIC Participants

Shopping for baby formula online could soon be a reality for those enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and …

The Tierras Milperas community garden in Watsonvile feeds dozens of families and is used for cultural gatherings.(Tierras Milperas)

Farmworker Advocates Fight to Save Community Garden

A farmworker group in Watsonville is speaking out after a local church terminated the lease on land used for a community garden. The group, called …

Around 11 million people nationwide are eligible to receive benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which helps low-income families purchase infant formula (Adobe Stock).<br />

USDA Greenlights Online Infant Formula Shopping for WIC

Households receiving benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children could be able to start shopping for …

According to the CDC, each year one in six Americans is sickened by any one of 31 pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses. (Adobe Stock)

CT Rep Seeks to Create New Regulatory Agency for Food Safety

A Connecticut congresswoman is among those asking the government to overhaul the way it handles food-safety issues. Fifteen federal agencies deal …

Hunger-fighting groups say when children have trouble accessing food over the summer, they might not challenge themselves as much intellectually, which puts them behind in the next school year. (Adobe Stock)

New Summer Food Benefits Surface for MN Children

In the coming days, many Minnesota families with young children - dealing with food insecurity - should see some financial aid to help get them …

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks says some hunger-assistance programs are rationing food for those in need because of low inventory. (OAFB)

Long Lines, Empty Shelves: Ohio's Hunger Response Network is Hurting

New faces, longer lines and empty shelves: Ohio's hunger-fighting network is sounding the alarm as it faces unprecedented challenges. At the …

Farmworker families in Apopka benefit from a food distribution hosted by the Farmworker Association of Florida. (Yesica Ramirez)

Grants Fund Emergency Supports for Florida Farmworker Families

Florida farmworkers are getting some much-needed support thanks to a grant from the Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor Food Alliance (HEAL)…

Rotational grazing, a popular form of regenerative agriculture, involves moving animals through pasture to improve soil health. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmer to Congress: Protect Small Producers, Food Security

A U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday highlighting the threat climate change poses to the world's food supply, and how farmers can be …

Small to mid-sized meat processors must operate as either a USDA-FSIS facility or a federally regulated custom-exempt slaughter and processing facility, while also complying with federal regulations, to qualify for a new grant program. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska’s Smaller Meat Lockers Challenged to Ramp Up Capacity

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants through the Independent Processor Assistance Program. Johnathan Hladik…

Russia's war in Ukraine has pushed up fertilizer prices that already were high, made scarce supplies rarer still and squeezed farmers domestically and around the world. But farmer advocates also point to market concentration. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers' Advocates, Fertilizer Industry at Odds Over Prices

Claire Carlson for the Daily Yonder Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Iowa News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration The f…

HOPE Collaborative in Oakland partners with Cocina del Corazon to produce healthy meals that are distributed free at community fridges and corner stores to feed the needy. (HOPE Collaborative)

Oakland Nonprofit Fills Community Fridges to Combat Hunger

Local nonprofits in the Bay Area are tackling hunger in low-income neighborhoods by stocking corner stores and "community fridges" around town with fr…

Buffalo's East Side is still reeling after the racially-motivated shooting in a local grocery store in May. The store's Friday reopening has only drummed up controversy about whether it should be back in business. (Adobe Stock)

East Buffalo Tops Store Reopens Amid Neighborhood Ambivalence

The Tops supermarket in Buffalo, where a racially-motivated gunman killed 10 people and injured three, has reopened today, almost two months since …

Nearly 40% of meat-packing workers in the United States are immigrants. (Artem Merzlenko/Adobe Stock)

MO Group Receives Grant to Support Immigrant, Refugee Meat-Plant Workers

An organization in rural Missouri is getting a funding boost to empower workers at meat-processing plants, especially immigrants and refugees…

Some school districts are concerned the expiration of USDA waivers will have negative impacts on school meal programs. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Coalition Calls for Free School Meals to Avoid Child Hunger Cliff

Much like textbooks and transportation, a healthy lunch is a vital part of a child's school day and can help achieve educational success. Since …

The HEAL Food Alliance is making small grants to organizations across the country that are helping workers who find themselves underwater in the 'informal economy.' (Adobe Stock)

HEAL Grant Bolsters Workers' Center Programs in Central NY

An organization in Central New York is getting a funding boost to help workers who are still struggling with the financial effects of the pandemic…

Studies show that 40% of college students in Utah and across the country say food insecurity is affecting their academic performance. (prostock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Food Insecurity a Major Problem for Utah College Students

There may be some truth to the expression about the "starving college student" struggling to earn a degree. A survey of students enrolled in Utah …

Students who complete a post-graduate degree or certificate are more likely to earn far more money over their lifetime than students with just a high school diploma. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Struggles to Get Students Back into College

The COVID public health emergency forced many Nebraska students to put their college careers on hold. More than 300,000 Nebraskans have completed …

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