Newly Elected NAFDPIR President Comes to Washington, D.C.!

And to Alexandria, VA too!  Mr. Joe Van Alstine, newly elected President of the National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (NAFDPIR), visited with USDA officials and FNS staff September 24th through 28th.

During his visit, Mr. Van Alstine, the Assistant Deputy Administrator for Supplemental Nutrition and Safety, and Food Distribution staff had the opportunity to discuss various topics directly related to FDPIR including policy issues, administrative funding, food ordering, technology systems, and FDPIR direct certification with school meals. On Monday, September 28, Mr. Van Alstine met with FNCS Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and FNS Administrator Audrey Rowe to discuss key issues and priorities impacting FDPIR administrating agencies.

Mr. Van Alstine was elected NAFDPIR president in the Summer of 2015 and represents 276 Indian Tribal Organizations that currently administer FDPIR.

Blurbs and Blogs

Southwest Regional Office Host FDPIR Directors Conference

FNS’ Southwest Regional Office Food Distribution staff hosted representatives from 16 of the 20 Southwest Region FDPIR ITOs, as well as  representatives from the FNS Northeast Regional Office and the Seneca Nation on September 9th and 10th, 2015, in Dallas, TX. An annual event, the conference provided an opportunity for the program directors to receive updates on the current and upcoming fiscal years’ plan of work; receive updates regarding financial management, FDPIR certification, direct certification, USDA foods inventory, and nutrition education; and hear from DoD regarding the Fresh Produce Program. In addition, attendees had an opportunity to network with each other and share special projects and activities currently underway.

Program Spotlight

Seminole Nation in Choctaw, Oklahoma Uses Aquaponics to Grow Food and Conserve Natural Resources    The Seminole Nation Food & Nutrition Program has put in an educational aquaponics system located at the Seminole Nation Food & Nutrition facility (pictured left). This project was made possible with the help of the Sheena V. Foundation and Symbiotic Aquaponics. Aquaponics systems grow plants and fish in closed, self-sustaining ecosystems. A true auaponics system recycles water and may reduce water consumption by up to 99%. This means that a tomato may be grown in less space and will require 1% of the water required by a tomato grown with traditional farming.

A 40 square foot grow bed (pictured right) has the capacity to germinate and propagate 100 tomato plants in each square foot. Operated commercially, the 400 gallon fish tank is capable of producing up to 600 pounds of fish (tilapia) each year for consumption. Currently the tank is home to gold fish, a hardy fish excellent for establishing the system, local bluegill perch, catfish, and koi. The greenhouse will become a training site for other persons interested in using aquaponics to supplement food resources for their home or economic development. It is the dream of Kaben and Shelby Smallwood from Talihina, Oklahoma, that every Native American tribe will grow their own food and conserve natural resources in the process.

Resource Roundup

Banner Up: Pop-ups are here!

Using the design developed by the FDPIR Marketing Committee, made up of FNS and FDPIR staff, FNS produced a pop-up banner for use by all FDPIR administering agencies. The banners were delivered to ITOs in August and have already been seen at many regional and local events.  The double-sided banner highlights the program under the tagline, Healthy Choices, 100% American Grown, and shows nutrition education along with information on items within the FDPIR food package. ITOs may use the banner at health fairs, with partner organizations, and/or during FDPIR nutrition education events. The banners can also be used in coordination with the FDPIR brochure developed by the FDPIR Marketing Committee last summer.

Site Visits

FNS Staff Visit Kanas City, Missouri to Attend the Mountain Plains FDPIR Annual Conference

Last month, FNS staff had the opportunity to attend the Mountain Plains Region FDPIR Annual Conference in Kansas City, MO. Attendees spent two and a half days covering a variety of topics, ranging from a presentation on converting your FDPIR warehouse to a store concept, to learning about the updates to the management evaluation process. FNS Headquarters staff also provided an opportunity for FDPIR Directors to ask any questions that they had.

An added bonus to the conference being held in Kansas City was that attendees were able to do a site visit at the Paris Brothers National Warehouse. The tour included showing how orders are pulled in preparation for shipment, learning about how this very large warehouse is managed and seeing all three types of storage (dry, refrigerated, and freezer). A big thank you to the Paris Brothers staff for allowing us to tour the space!

Conference Clips

Tsyunhehkw^ means “Life Sustenance” In late August, the 25 Intertribal organizations operating FDPIR in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York, and the Midwest Regional Office staff met for the annual regional FDPIR meeting on the Oneida Indian Reservation in Wisconsin. The meeting kicked off with a regional Nutrition Advisory Committee on August 24th. Committee members met and shared best practices and challenges related to conducting nutrition education with clients. A tour of the Oneida Nation organic farms and cannery was also organized where over 25 attendees were able to visit the bison farm, apple orchard, cannery, and organic Tsyunhehkw^ produce farm. The goal of the farm is to reintroduce healthy, organic foods to the Oneida community and to foster better nutrition among community members. The next day, MWRO staff members presented on a wide variety of topics, including civil rights, preparing annual budgets, nutrition education and funding, and updates on the food package. Guest speakers included a representative from the Department of Defense who presented on the FDPIR Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Program and representatives from the University of Wisconsin-Extension Family Living Program who conducted two cooking demos using the Black Beans and Rice recipe and Dutch Apple Yogurt recipe from the USDA Fact Sheets.

Featured Foods

Two new fresh seasonal produce options will be added to the FDPIR food package in fall 2015! Beginning in November, programs will be able to order cranberries and clementines through DoD Fresh. Cranberries are tart and tangy berries and are a delicious ingredient in many sauces, salads, holiday dishes from savory to sweet. They are a good source of vitamin C. They will be available in 12 ounce packages (F650).

Clementines are a good source of fiber and low in calories. They are also rich in a variety of vital nutrients including  potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous. Consumption of citrus fruits such as clementines provides essential vitamins such as vitamin C and folate.The clementines will be available in 2 pound bags (F640).

After a very successful and popular pilot in 2013, pork chops have been added as a permanent food item available for multi-food ordering. This item will be treated as any other item within the meat category.  While the first couple of months, FNS fair-shared the product to ensure everyone would have the opportunity to receive the pork chops, beginning in October, the fair shares will no longer be in place. Boneless, frozen, pork chops are available in 1-pound packages (110380).

Policy Corner

New Exhibit Released for FY 2016

The FY 2016 Net Monthly Income Standards, also referred to as Exhibit M of the FNS Handbook 501, for FDPIR are now available and will be effective on October 1, 2015.  The net monthly income standards for each FDPIR household size is the sum of the applicable Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) net monthly income standards and the applicable SNAP standard deduction.  FDPIR certification staff use the income standards to compare a household’s net monthly income with the listed income limits to determine a household’s eligibility to the program.  In FY 2016, the income limits increased across all household sizes.  Also included in Exhibit M are the regional deduction amounts for shelter and utility which remain unchanged in FY 2016.

FNS Headquarters Staff Attends the NAFDPIR Conference in Albuquerque, NM

On the Horizon

The American Heart Association and Shakopee tribe Mdewakanton Sioux Community are joining forces to improve Native American nutrition and health.

The "Fertile Ground: Planting the Seeds for Native American Nutrition and Health"event will take place in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, October 14-15, 2015.

For more information, please visit: http://www.echohawkconsulting.com/

Learn more at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/food-distribution-programs or contact us at USDAFoods@fns.usda.gov.

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