Details for HFHP Survey 1-35 Items

8/2/2019 Details for HFHP Survey 1-35 Items

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HealthyFarms,HealthyPeopleCoalitionPrioritySettingSurvey1of3DetailsFormoreinformationaboutthecoalition,pleaseseehfhpcoalition.org

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DescriptionofPossiblePrioritiesforHFHPCoalitionPrioritySetting

Survey1of3

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HLXDMNH

FoodSecurityandNutrition

1.SupportanationalpilotprogramtoprovideincentivesforSNAPrecipientstopurchasefruitsand

vegetables:Studieshaveshownthatfinancialincentiveshelpincreasehealthyfoodpurchases.An

expandedpilotprogramwouldinvestigatetheimpactofpurchasingincentivesforfruitsandvegetables,

wholegrains,andleanproteinsamongSNAPparticipants.

2.Protectfundingforfederalnutritionassistanceprograms,includingSNAP:Nutritionassistance

programs,includingSNAP(formerlyknownastheFoodStampProgram),playavitalroleinprotecting

vulnerablepopulationsfromhungerandfromthehealthconsequencesofpoornutrition.Thefederal

nutritionassistanceprogramsalsocreatemarketopportunitiesforfarmersviaincreasedpurchasing

powerforfoodamonglow-incomeindividuals

3.ProtectfundingforSNAP-Education:SNAPNutritionEducation,orSNAP-Ed isanimportantprogramforimprovingthehealthofSNAPparticipantswhilehelpingtostretchbenefitstotheendofthemonth

topurchasehealthyfoods,andsupportingAmericasfarmersthrougheducationthatencouragesthe

purchaseofthehealthyfoodstheygrow.SNAP-Edisaneffectiveprogramforensuringlow-income

Americanshavetheknowledgeandskillstomakehealthyfoodchoices,increasefruitandvegetable

consumption,improvediets,andreducetheirriskofchronicdiseaseandobesity.

4.PromotetheuseofSNAPbenefitsatfarmersmarkets,CSAs,andotherfarm-freshoutlets:Serving

over45millionAmericans,theSNAPprogramcanbeamajoreconomicdriver.EnablingSNAP

participantstopurchasedirectlyfromfarmerswouldhavesignificantimpactonparticipantsaccessto

freshfood,andfarmersincomes.Currently,manynon-brickandmortarfoodoutletsdonothave

wirelessEBTdevicestoenableSNAPparticipantstopurchasefood.Underthispriority,USDAwouldsupportwirelessEBTpointofsaledevicestofarmersmarkets,CSAs,andotherfarm-freshoutlets.

EnableandencouragesmartphoneSNAPEBTtechnologyinthiseffort.

5.Allowthird-partyorganizationstoacceptEBTonbehalfoffarmersandfarmersmarketswith

administrativeortechnologicalbarrierstoestablishinganEBTsystemontheirown.Forexample,one

NGOcouldserveasthehubforvariousfarmerstomaketheirproductsavailabletoSNAPparticipants

withouteachfarmerhavingtobeprovidedindividualEBTcapabilities.


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6.StrengthenSNAPretailerfoodstockingstandards:SNAPplaysavitalroleinsupportingfoodsecurity

forover45millionAmericans,manyofwhomdonothaveeasyaccesstostorescarryingfresh,healthy

food.SNAPnationalvendorstandardsshouldbestrengthenedtoincreasetheavailabilityoffresh,

healthyfoodacrossretailoutletsthatacceptSNAPbenefits.

7.MaintainandexpandfundingforCommunityFoodProjects:Programsthatenhancecommunity

foodsecurity,suchasCommunityFoodProjects,encouragejobcreationandeconomicgrowth.They

alsosupportfarmersthroughthepurchaseoftheirproducts,aswellascommunitiesfoodsecurity

throughaccesstothesefoods.

8.Providefederalguidancetolocalgovernmentsonhowbesttosupportaccesstohealthyfood:Just

asCDChasdevelopedguidanceontheroleoflocalgovernmentinpreventingobesity,USDAcouldlead

thechargewithotherfederalagenciestoexplorehowlocalzoningandland-useregulationsrelateto

foodaccess.Areportanddatabasehighlightingpositiveexamplesandbestpracticeswouldbe

invaluableresources.

9.Provideataxcredittofarmersforfooddonationstofoodbanks:Therearetimesthatfarmersarenotabletosellallthattheygrowbeforethefoodspoils,yetdonatingtheseitemsrequirestimeand

resourceswhichmostfarmerscannotafford.TosupportthefoodsecurityofvulnerableAmericansas

wellasfarmersincomes,thegovernmentcouldprovideataxcredittofarmerstoincentivizedonation

earlierinthegrowingseasonofhighqualityproducetofoodbanksfordistributionthroughthe

charitablefoodsystem.

10.IncreasesupportfortheHealthyFoodFinancingInitiative(HFFI):TheHFFIsupportsthe

developmentofstoresthatcarryfresh,healthyfoodinpreviouslyunderservedareas.Supporting

healthyfoodfinancingwouldenablemorehealthy,freshfoodretailerstodevelopandthrivein

communitiesthatcurrentlylackinthesenewmarkets.

11.ProtectfundingforHunger-FreeCommunityGrants/StateChildhoodHungerChallengeGrants.

Thesegrantswouldgenerallyprovidecompetitivegrantfundingtostatestodevelopandtestinnovative

andcollaborativebenefitdeliverymodels,withstateandlocalgovernments,non-profitorganizations,

andresearchinstitutionstoimprovelowincomeindividuals,particularlychildrens,accesstohealthy

foodtopromoteyearroundfoodsecurityandendhunger.Thesegrantswouldofferanopportunityto

improveaccesstonutritiousfoodthroughresearch,planningandimplementationofhunger-relief

activitiesinamannerthatcoulddevelopanevidence-basedframeworkformeetingunmetnutritional

needsofvulnerablepopulations,whilealsobenefitinglocaleconomiesandpromotingcommunity

development.

LocalandRegionalFood

12.RequirefoodstoresreceivingHFFIfinancingtosourcesomelocal/regionalfood:Underthispolicy,

foodstorescreatedthroughtheHFFIwouldberequiredtosourceapercentageoftheirproductslocally

orregionally.Thispolicychangecouldhavesignificantimpactsonsupportinglocalandregionalfarm

economies.


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13.ExpandfundingfortheFarmersMarketPromotionProgram:ProgramsliketheFarmersMarket

PromotionProgramencouragejobcreationandeconomicgrowth.Theyalsosupportfarmersthrough

thepurchaseoftheirproducts.

14.Increasefundsforlocalandregionalfoodsysteminfrastructuresuchason-farmprocessing

equipmentandaggregation,distribution,andprocessingfacilities:Suchinfrastructurewould

strengthenregionalfoodhubs,FarmtoSchool,value-addedproduction,andotherruraldevelopment

programs.

15.EstablishmechanismforschoolstouseDepartmentofDefense(DoD)FreshandUSDAFoodsfunds

topurchaselocalandregionalproductforschoolfoodprograms:Establishinganavenueforschoolsto

useDoDFreshandUSDAFoodsfundstopurchaseand/orprocesslocalandregionalproductswould

helpensurethatsmall-andmid-sizefarmerscanparticipateintheseprogramsandbringfreshproducts

intoschoolmeals.

FruitsandVegetables:

16.Expandplantingflexibilitypilotprogramtoallowmorecommoditycropfarmerstoproducefruits

andvegetablesforinstitutionalpurchasers:The2008FarmBillincludedaprovisionallowingsome

commodityfarmerstogrowfruitsandvegetables(forprocessingonly)andremaineligiblefor

commoditypayments.Underthispriority,theflexibilitywouldbemodifiedandexpandedtoallowfor

institutionalpurchasecontracts,fruitsandvegetablestobesoldfresh.Theprogramwouldalsobe

expandedbeyondthepilotstates.

17.Increasefundingforspecialtycropresearch:Manyspecialtycropsareanessentialpartofahealthy

diet.Specialtycropsrefertocommonlyeatenfoodcropsincludingfruitsandvegetables,treenuts,dried

fruits,andherbs(bothculinaryandmedicinal),aswellhorticulturalandfloriculturalcrops(flowers,trees

etc.)Specialtycropsdonotincludecommoditycrops(wheat,corn,soyetc.).Viathispriority,moneyforresearchintoproductiontechniques,pestmanagementanddiversifiedproductionofSpecialtyCrops

wouldbeincreasedasamandatoryauthorization.

18.Collectdataonspecialtycropproductiontocreateinsuranceandloanprogramsforunderserved

growers:Insuranceandloansareimportantsafetynetsforfarmers,yetfarmsgrowingfruitsand

vegetables,thosewithdiversifiedcropmixes,andthoseproducinginenvironmentallysustainableways

(suchasorganic)donotalwayshaveaccesstocropinsurance.Akeybarrierislackofhistoricalactuarial

data.Toaddressthisproblem,thisprioritywouldhaveUSDAcollectmorecomprehensivedataon

productionandpricesforthesecropsandproductionmethods,inordertobetterandmorefairlytarget

cropinsuranceanddisasterassistanceprograms,ensurethereimbursementratesforthecropsgrown

reflecttheirtruevalue,andcreateloanproductsbasedonthevalueofthecrops.

19.ProtectfundingfortheFreshFruitandVegetableProgram:TheUSDAFreshFruitandVegetable

Programhasbeenahighlysuccessful,cost-effectiveprogram,providingfruitandvegetablesnacksto

low-incomeelementaryschoolstudents,thusincreasingtheirconsumptionandintroducingmanyto

newfoods.Itrunsinselectedlow-incomeelementaryschoolsinthe50States,theDistrictofColumbia,

Guam,PuertoRico,andtheVirginIslands.


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ProductionMethods:

20.Extendconservationcomplianceprovisionstocropinsurance:UnderConservationcompliance,

farmsoperatingonenvironmentallysensitivelandsarerequiredtocomplywithconservationprovisions

inordertoreceivesomecommoditypayments.Cropinsuranceiscurrentlyexcluded,anditisbelieved

thatsomecommoditypaymentprogramswillbeeliminatedwiththisfarmbill.Extendingconservation

compliancetocropinsurancewouldhelpkeepsomeformercommodity-program-enrolledland

protected.

21.Maintainandincreasefundingforworkinglandsconservationprograms(suchas,EQIPand

ConservationStewardshipProgram):Farmersplayanextremelyimportantroleinpreservingnatural

resources.Programsthatencouragerobustconservationpracticesonworkinglandsbenefitfarmers,

environmentalhealthandultimately,humanhealth.

22.Maintainandincreasefundingforprogramsthatpromoteorganicproduction:Pesticideexposure

hasbeenlinkedtocancerandotherhealththreats,suchasendocrinedisruption.Organicproduction

protectsfarmers,farmworkersandconsumersfrompesticideexposureandhasnumerousother

environmentalbenefits.OrganicprogramsinthefarmbillincludetheNationalOrganicCertificationCost-shareProgramandtheEQIPOrganicInitiative.

Research

23.RequireUSDAtosubmitareporttoCongresseachyearontheimpactofUSAgricultureonHealth:

InorderforCongresstobetterunderstandtheselinksandactaccordinglytoprotectpublichealth,via

thispriority,awrittenreportcoveringtopicssuchasenvironmentalhealth,antibioticresistance,farm

andfoodworkerhealth,anduseofchemicalsandpharmaceuticalsinagriculture,wouldbecompliedby

USDAinpartnershipwithotherrelevantAgenciesandsubmittedtoCongressonanannualbasis.

24.MaintainfundingfortheNationalInstituteofFoodandAgricultureforprogramsthatsupport

health.Continuedandexpandedresearchonarangeoftopicscouldpromoteandprotecthealthwhile

assistingfarmersandothersinthefoodsupplychainintheirbusinesses.Suchavenuesinclude,small

andmid-sizedfarms,reducingtheuseoftoxicchemicals,andfoodsecurity.CapswithinNIFAtoensure

somesmallerprojectsgetfundedwouldalsobeuseful.

25.Expandresearchtoadvanceadaptationandpreparednessoftheagriculturalsectorinfaceof

climatechange,watershortages,peakoilandotherecologicalthreats.USDAdoescriticalresearchon

theseissues.Thisimportantworkneedsmoresupportandmoreofasystems-researchapproach,

includingafocusonthedevelopmentofsustainableagriculturalmethodsthatcanbalanceimproved

efficiencyandeffectivenessofproductionwithincreasinglylimitedresourcesandachangingnatural

environment.

26.MaintainandincreasemandatoryfundingforOREI,BFRDPandSCRI,threeprogramsinthe

ResearchTitlethatwouldbeeliminatedafter2012becausetheylackcontinuedfunding:TheOrganic

AgricultureResearchandExtensionInitiative(OREI),SpecialtyCropResearchInitiative(SCRI),and

BeginningFarmerandRancherDevelopmentProgram(BFRDP)addressthelackofUSDAresearchand

extensionservingorganic,specialtycrop,andbeginningproducers,whomakeupagrowingportionof


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theagriculturalsector.Theseprogramsdonothavebaselinedollarsafter2012andwillexpireunless

specificallyrenewedinthenextFarmBill.

27.AddemphasisforsustainableagriculturetotheSpecialtyCropResearchInitiative:Underthis

priority,SCRIwouldeithersetasideaportionoffunds,orweighproposalsmoreheavily,forresearchon

sustainableagriculturepracticesaddressingspecialtycropconcerns,includingpestmanagementand

disease,productionefficiencyandprofitability.

Fairness,CompetitionandPrices

28.Createmechanismstostabilizefarmprices,suchasbufferstocksoragrainreserve:Protecting

farmersincomesandmaintainingafairpriceforconsumersisakeyfunctionofagriculturepolicy.

Congresscouldcreatemechanismstobalancethehighsandlowsofcommoditysupplies,suchasbuffer

stocksorafarmer-ownedgrainreserve.Theseapproacheswouldbeameanstoachievegreaterstability

intheglobalagriculturalmarketplaceandtoprovideassistancetothehungry,bothathomeand

abroad.

29.EnsurefairgrowercontractsandcompetitionbystrengtheningandenhancingGIPSAprovisions

fromthe2008FarmBill,includingclarifyingunfairanddiscriminatorypracticesandpricepreferences,

andstrengtheningrecourseforfarmers/rancherstomakecomplaintsaboutunfair/deceptivepractices.

Suchactionswouldgivesmalllivestockandpoultryoperationsaccesstoalevelplayingfieldgiven

industryconcentration.

30.ProvideauthoritytotheUSDAtoassurethatworkplacehealthandsafety,wageandhourand

otherprotectionsforfarmworkersaremetbyallvendorswhosellfreshfruitandvegetablesand

otherfoodtotheUSDA.

31.Includeaset-asideforSociallyDisadvantagedproducersinspecialtycropblockgrantsandfreshfruitandvegetablepurchaseprograms.Thereisawideneedformoresupportforspecialtycropsand

freshfruitandvegetablepurchasesinordertoaddressthehealthandsafetyconcernsofAmerican

consumersandmeettheincreaseddemandforfreshvegetablesandfruitforallconsumers.AsCongress

seekstoenhanceauthorityandfundingtoincreasetheproductionanddistributionofspecialtycrops,it

isalsoimportantandamatteroffairnesstoensurethatsociallydisadvantagedfarmersareincludedin

anysuchexpansionviaaspecificset-aside.

RuralDevelopment:

32.IncreaseUSDAintradepartmentalandfederalagenciesinterdepartmentalcollaborationon

urban/rurallinkageissues:CreateanintradepartmentalworkforcewithinUSDAresponsibleforurban-

rurallinkagesacrossexistingprograms.SuchaninitiativecouldfostercollaborationbetweenFarm

ServiceAgencyandExtensionstafftobetteraddressurbanandruralfoodaccess.Itwouldalsoprovidea

structureforenhancedcollaborationwithotheragenciessuchasEPA,CDCandHUDforexample

throughformalUSDAmembershipinthePresidentsSustainableCommunitiesinteragencyworkforce.


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USDAandotherAgencies:

33.Improvefarmandfoodsystemworkerhealth:Farmandfoodsystemworkersplayamajorrolein

gettingfoodfromfieldtoplate.Manydonothavehealthinsurance,faceoccupationalhealthissuesand

otherhealthimpactsoftheirwork.Farmersandcompaniesthatemploytheseworkersalsohaveaneed

forahealthyworkforce.

34.Improvefoodsafetywhileprotectingsmallandmid-sizedfarmers:Alackoffoodsafetyclearly

impactspeopleshealth,butitalsoaffectsfarmersbottomlines.TherecentFoodSafetyModernization

Actlaidoutimportantchangesforfoodsafety.Whilethesechangesshouldbegoodforhealth,someof

theprovisionsmaynegativelyimpactsmallandmid-sizedfarmersifattentionisnotpaidtothedetails

ofimplementingthelaw.

35.Ensurefarmlandpreservation:Havingenoughlandforfoodproductionisanationalsecurityissue,

aswellasaneconomicandhealthone.Arangeoftacticstopreservefarmlandcouldbeemployed,such

aszoningchangesatthelocallevelandtaxincentivesatthefederallevelforfarmerswhowilltheirland

tobeginningfarmers.

Documents

Details for HFHP Survey 1-35 Items