Louisiana has the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, and 83% of louisiana parishes contain areas that the USDA has deemed low-income and low-access (LI/LA)

Market Umbrella ORG received a $4.0 million Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (CFDA 10.331), awarded September 15, 2025, with a completion date of September 14, 2029. The organization will expand fruit and vegetable (FF/V) nutrition incentive programs across Louisiana to increase availability and consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients through direct-to-consumer outlets and neighborhood food retailers. This initiative addresses Louisiana's significant food insecurity challenges, where the state ranks second nationally in food insecurity rates and 83% of parishes are designated as low-income and low-access areas by the USDA.

The grant-funded activities will deliver point-of-purchase financial incentives and nutrition support services to low-income populations, with anticipated outcomes including improved food security, increased produce consumption, and reduced chronic disease prevalence. Louisiana's documented health disparities—including fourth-highest adult obesity rates nationally (34.9%) and third-highest childhood obesity rates (34.9% for ages 10-17)—establish the public health urgency for this intervention. Market Umbrella ORG, a woman-owned nonprofit with demonstrated expertise managing the Crescent City Farmers Markets and prior GusNIP implementation experience, will leverage this funding to drive economic development and community health outcomes across the state.

Food insecurity also deeply impacts the children in our state. One in five children in louisiana live in food insecure households. Poor diet is a leading factor contributing to chronic disease outcomes in louisiana's communities, where statewide, 14.2% of adults have diabetes and 39.7% have hypertension. Louisiana ranks fourth in the nation for adult obesity at 34.9% and third in the nation for obesity in children ages 10-17. Studies show that when FF/V availability is expanded, consumption also rises which reduces the rates of chronic disease.GTG will serve snap recipients across louisiana by increasing the availability of FF/V nutrition incentive programs through direct-to-consumer outlets and neighborhood food retailers, to drive economic and community health in louisiana.