USDA innovation will deliver to states

They probably laughed at Fred Smith when he conceived of FedEx and the efficient distribution of packages to customers. In Washington, it is a favorite pastime to criticize new ideas and claim they won’t work. But innovation has always been one of the keys to success, and innovation is what America’s Harvest Boxes represent.

The proposal will provide nutritious food for people in need and reduce costs to taxpayers at a time when the national debt exceeds $20.5 trillion. America’s Harvest Boxes will be just what they sound like: containers of 100% American-grown products to encourage nutritious diets. Using the Department of Agriculture’s massive purchasing power, it will save about $129 billion over 10 years, and still provide the same food value recipients get now through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This commonsense proposal is a win for SNAP recipients, taxpayers and farmers.

Recipients will retain the ability to make food choices for themselves. America’s Harvest Boxes will use our agricultural abundance to provide wholesome staple foods, while allowing people to make their own food purchases with the remaining portion of their SNAP benefits. Because states know their populations best, they will have the flexibility to offer food options for people with differing dietary needs.

As true laboratories of innovation, states can determine their own methods of connecting people with their Harvest Boxes. Some may choose to partner with non-profits or the private sector to arrange for boxes to be picked up at non-profit or retail outlets, while others may work with private sector innovators to deliver boxes to doorsteps.

Bold proposals can raise concerns because they are new and different. But the reality is that we must fulfill our commitment to helping people who need assistance, while also dealing with the nation’s fiscal situation. USDA is committed to doing right and feeding everyone at the same time we keep costs to a minimum.

Brandon Lipps is acting deputy undersecretary for USDA’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services.