Food Stamps and the 2012 Election

A  Marketplace Wealth and Poverty series takes a look at the politics of food stamps (i.e. the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP). The reports highlight perceptions about the program and the way in which some politicians are framing the debate about hunger and poverty in America. The series features two reports on food stamps…

Food Sovereignty Prize Awarded

The fourth annual Food Sovereignty Prize, awarded in New York City on October 10 by WhyHunger, honored the work of four grassroots organizations working for a more democratic food system. This year, prizes went to the Korean Women’s Peasant Association, the United Peasant Movement of Aguan Region, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, and the Coalition of…

World Food Day 2012

October 16 was World Food Day, sponsored by a host of government agencies and non-governmental organizations to raise awareness about hunger and malnutrition around the world. According to a recent report jointly published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP), approximately…

Can these Minnesota ads reduce obesity?

Minnesotans have something new to watch on TV: Commercials encouraging them to reduce their weight. They are a part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota’s latest campaign to reduce obesity rates. These ads haven't been universally loved, drawing criticism from those who argue that people respond better to positive message about health and healthy…

Catching up with the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, a non-profit organization in Columbia, Missouri, has been working to expand fresh food options in central Columbia since 2008.  The group began with a small demonstration garden and has grown to include a 1.3 acre urban farm, an on-site farm stand that accepts SNAP benefits, an Opportunity Gardens program…

NPR: Recession Still Hurting U.S. Families Trying To Put Food On The Table

A recent post on NPR's food blog, The Salt, reported that "the number of U.S. families struggling to put enough food on the table remains at record-high levels." This comes from new data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department estimates that approximately 14.9 percent of American households were food insecure in 2011.…