USDA

Rural Counties Losing Share of Grocery Stores, Gaining Other Types of Food Retailers

December 20, 2021 Alexander Stevens, USDA ERS

Rural U.S. consumers may face challenges finding access to retail food stores, especially if they live in regions with high poverty rates and decreasing population. To address the retail food store access issue, Federal policymakers have passed legislation such as the 2010 Healthy Food Financing Initiative. It was created to attract grocery stores to certain areas and give existing retailers incentives to sell healthy products in underserved communities. …

Low Carbon Beef Approved as a USDA Process Verified Program Service Provider

December 8, 2021 Low Carbon Beef

Low Carbon Beef, a cattle certification program that enables beef farmers and ranchers to earn premiums by reducing carbon emissions of their cattle operation, announced it has secured approval as a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) Service Provider from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). …

USDA Invests $32 Million to Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain; Solidifies Commitment to Helping the Meat and Poultry Sector Recover from the Pandemic

November 24, 2021 USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the investment of $32 million in grants awarded to 167 meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to support expanded capacity and efficiency through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. …

USDA Announces Appointments to the Mushroom Council

November 19, 2021 USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of three members to serve on the Mushroom Council. The appointees will serve three-year terms from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024.  …

California Receives $1.8 Million Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Award from U.S. Department of Agriculture for “Pacific Coast Coalition”

November 11, 2021 California Dairy Innovation Center

The California State University, Fresno Foundation, in partnership with the California Dairy Innovation Center (CDIC), today announced the receipt of a $1.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service to create a “Pacific Coast Coalition” to support dairy businesses in California, Oregon and Washington in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products. …