NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — An investment of over $46 million in projects to tackle food and nutrition insecurity was announced on Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

These projects are for underserved communities by providing fruit and vegetables for healthy diets to eligible families.

“Healthy, safe, and affordable food is essential for a strong start for children and a healthy life for all of us,” said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Xochitl Torres Small.

Small noted this will give funding to 20 different Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) projects, bringing together stakeholders from parts of the food system and fostering the understanding of national food security trends and how they work together to improve food systems.

It’s expected to catalyze small-production agriculture, increase access in low-income communities, increase community engagement, and bridge gaps in the food system.

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Programs (GusNIP) include Nutrition Incentives and Produce Prescriptions. These projects will foster understanding to improve the health and nutrition of households, help with growth, and gather data to improve best practices. 14 projects will receive funding from GusNIP — including pilot projects, standard projects, and largescale projects.

Produce Prescription awards will be given to 11 projects, which will demonstrate and evaluate the impact of fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions. The goal is to increase the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce food insecurity, and reduce healthcare use and costs.

All of these investments are designed to answer the call to the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities .

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