Jun 22, 2023
Cindy Lengthy, Administrator, USDA Meals and Vitamin Service (FNS), and Regional FNS management visited New Mexico final month to acknowledge a number of FNS diet help packages in motion and find out how FNS can help their work. Advancing diet safety is a key precedence of the Biden-Harris Administration, so we’re excited to be working with native companions to advertise the general significance of kid diet. New Mexico is without doubt one of the first States to supply wholesome meals to all youngsters, guaranteeing extra youngsters have entry to the meals they should thrive at college and past.
The primary cease of Administrator Lengthy’s go to was on the Isleta Pueblo WIC Clinic in Albuquerque to debate the significance of WIC programming on tribal land. WIC, a federally funded supplemental meals program, offers diet schooling, breastfeeding help, wholesome meals and referrals to well being care and different neighborhood providers for low-income pregnant and post-partum ladies, and infants and kids as much as age 5. FNS is dedicated to constructing and sustaining relationships with tribal nations and supporting the wants of Indigenous households.
Later, the group visited Bernalillo Public College’s Bernalillo Center College for a tour and noticed a from-scratch lunch being served, utilizing complete, recent components offering college students with the diet they want for instructional success, well being, and wellbeing. The meal included beef sourced from New Mexico ranchers. Beginning subsequent college 12 months each baby may have entry to a wholesome no-cost meal at college guaranteeing the advantages of college meals are shared by all college students. That is considered one of FNS’ high priorities popping out of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Technique on Starvation, Vitamin, and Well being. FNS is doing the whole lot doable to help wholesome college meals for all, together with a proposed rule that will make it simpler for extra faculties to supply breakfast and lunch every college day for free of charge to all college students.
Lastly, the group visited One Technology’s Indigenous Farm Hub in Corrales to find out how they’re revitalizing Indigenous farming practices and meals techniques, in addition to supporting USDA’s Farm to College program. The Indigenous Farm Hub engages Indigenous communities in making a community of farmers and households that strengthens native and sustainable meals techniques by offering entry to wholesome meals, builds prosperity for farmers and native communities by land reclamation, and reconnects the bond between language and tradition to Indigenous practices of agriculture.
USDA is dedicated to working in tandem with companions to make sure youngsters and households have the instruments they should lead wholesome lives and thrive.
Meals and Vitamin
