USDA Grants $16.8 Million for Refugee Food Stamps, 'Culturally Appropriate Fruits and Vegetables'

Alissa Lopez | June 16, 2016
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is really starting to sound like First Lady Michelle Obama.

Just last week, the government branch was awarded $16.8 million dollars in order to implement some "helpful" adjustments in its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), otherwise known as food stamps. The Department of Agriculture is planning on increasing the availability of fruits and vegetables exclusively for refugees and immigrants in the U.S. because they are at risk for “under nutrition and obesity.”  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also stated immigrants and refugees are “highly dependent on SNAP to meet nutritional needs.”

So let me get this straight. People who have been allowed to come to this country legally, who should have come here in order to benefit our economy and society in someway, are unable to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families?

Who exactly are we letting into this country? Can someone tell me? Because apparently the average taxpayer is billed $20,000 per refugee and the U.S. admitted 2,099 this year. I would like to know who is benefiting from my tax dollars, thank you.  


The US. Department news release stated:

"USDA is committed to providing low income families with the resources they need to consume more nutritious food. Last year, SNAP kept at least 4.7 million Americans — including 2.1 million children — out of poverty," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

According to original grant document the International Rescue Committee (IRC) registers 10,000 refugees into the SNAP program each year. So as these changes are implemented over the next four years, those who are already registered, will register in the future, and just so happen to live one of the “seven refugee-rich neighbors,” will be graced with access to “culturally-appropriate”  fruits and vegetables.

“Objectives: a.Operate or co-operate 1 farmers market, 7 farm stands/mobile markets, and 10 corner stores across 4 cities that are within target neighborhoods, are SNAP accessible, and collectively carry 40 varieties of culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables by year”

The IRC is responsible for the development of this project. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is just giving them the $564,321 they need in order to do it. 

The Washington Free Beacon reported:

The funding will go towards the group’s “New Roots” program.

The organization works to build “new roots in America, one farmers market at a time.” In Charlottesville, Virginia, the group has brought Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, machines [machines that issue food stamps] to a local farmers market.

If you ask me, this is a perfect example of the government wasting money on something that isn’t worth it. You know why? Because providing fresh fruits and vegetables isn’t going to incentivize these people to get an education or participate in a job training program so that they can get themselves jobs in order to contribute to society and to help them live a better life in this country. All this is going to do is make these individuals and families way more dependent on the government. 

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