As can be expected, farm bill negotiations are often contentious — and that’s no less true now, in a time of particularly stark political division across the country. Originally slated for passage in 2023, the farm bill’s fate is still unclear. Unfortunately, in a divided Congress, the farm bill process has stalled. In 2024, our goal remains the same: to make sure a farm bill that increases support and promotes the expansion of nutrition incentive and produce prescription programs is signed into law. 

While the farm bill remains a victim of shifting political momentum and hyper-partisanship in Congress, Fair Food Network is perched in its familiar position, standing alongside partners to foster bipartisan consensus, and working to build on the successes of years past. At the top of the list of Fair Food Network goals for the next farm bill is the reauthorization of the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which provides funding for produce prescription and nutrition incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks, helping participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) access and choose more fresh fruits and vegetables for their families. “Like many other programs included in the bill, GusNIP needs to be reauthorized with each new farm bill,” said Fair Food Network Federal Policy Lead, Mark Nicholson. “Fair Food Network successfully advocated for the inclusion of GusNIP in the 2014 and 2018 farm bills, and this time around, it’s less a matter of if than what. That’s why we’ve put so much energy into coalition building — to build the critical mass we need to ensure we achieve our policy goals and our common priorities.”  

In anticipation of the 2023 farm bill, Fair Food Network brought together national advocacy and state-based organizations — with stakeholders representing agriculture, anti-hunger, public health, retailers, grantees, and impacted communities — to form the Alliance for National Nutrition Incentives (ANNI). The resulting coalition has engaged in joint advocacy efforts throughout the protracted farm bill negotiations, promoting grassroots efforts and advocating for bipartisan policies that support and provide funding to programs working to keep healthy food within reach of all Americans. “The farm bill negotiation process is always a slow train, but one thing about this year’s bill that’s certain is that both Republicans and Democrats like GusNIP,” said Fair Food Network’s Director of Policy, Alex Canepa. “And I think that’s a testament to the outstanding job that ANNI has done of putting GusNIP in a context that really resonates with both parties.”   

Fair Food Network’s collaboration with ANNI partners has given the coalition a unified voice and situated it to leverage the impact and momentum of broader food movements — such as the burgeoning Food is Medicine movement — in years to come. “In 2024, we expect that ANNI membership will continue to grow and that the work accomplished in 2023 will jump-start advocacy efforts for the next farm bill and all farm bills going forward,” said Nicholson. “We plan to continue our advocacy work for as long as it takes to get this farm bill passed — and the next farm bill, too.”