Hello everyone! We hope that
your November is going well! We invite everyone to come on down to our next
delicious Pathfinder Produce fresh market at the Village Commons, this
Thursday, November 9, from 1 to 5 p.m. Our market staff – members of our Adult
Day Services program – take a great deal of pride in serving our community, and
look forward to greeting all our friends and neighbors as they shop for yummy
fruits and veggies.
***
This week, I am writing about a sobering topic,
hunger in America. Recently, I read an article from The Nation that put the spotlight
on the USDA’s report on food-insecure people in this country. This report,
citing 2016 numbers, was issued by the government back in September, but it
hasn't received much press. “Food insecurity” is defined as households that
lack access to enough food for an active, healthy
life for all members.
According to The Nation’s reporter
Eric Alterman, the number of food-insecure people in the US today totals 41
million, which is more than the populations of Texas, Michigan and Maine combined.
This is about 5 million more hungry people than in 2007, and includes 13
million children. The national average for
household food insecurity is at 12.3%.
Alterman says, “Family
food insecurity in rural America (15%) exceeds that in cities (14.2%) and the
suburbs (9.5%).” He goes on to add that the administration's proposed budget
calls for a cut of about $191 billion – about 25% from current levels – to the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps families and
seniors obtain the healthy foods they need. (Our friendly Edmeston
produce market accepts SNAP as part of our ‘market mission’ to help area
families obtain healthy foods).
He adds, “Peer-reviewed
studies have repeatedly found that SNAP reduces food insecurity by
approximately 13 percent.” He also cites that studies show the program has helped
reduce obesity, has had a significant role in helping young children maintain
healthy weights, and is one of the “most important programs to lift people out
of poverty.”
In the USDA’s summary of its
report, there is a map of food-insecure households: there are two main
concentrations of states that have food insecurity above the national average
-- the rust belt states of Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky; and
across the South, running from Arizona through Alabama. It is somewhat of a
paradox that these southern states, which arguably have a climate suited to
growing produce, have higher than average numbers of food insecure
households.
Here in New York, according to the
website of the Hunger
Solutions New York, the USDA report reveals that 12.5% of New Yorkers face
food insecurity, and that the rate dropped from 14.1% in 2015, a “statistically
significant decline.” They add that, “Still the number of New Yorkers
facing hunger-- 1 in 8 -- is unacceptable.”
Hunger Solutions concludes their
summary noting, “Nationally, only 59 percent of food insecure people reported
receiving assistance from our nation’s
fundamental nutrition assistance programs. … we must stay focused on
delivering federal nutrition programs including SNAP, school meals and summer
meals, and diligently advocate through legislative and administrative policies
to protect the integrity of these programs, their expansion and
improved access.”
Until next time, be well,
Lori
