Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:Our GusNIP LSFP initiative is designed to support Puerto Rican NAP participants who spend a minimum of $20 on fresh fruits and vegetables using their NAP card (Tarjeta de la Familia - Puerto Rico), providing evidence of purchase. As of the month of June 2025 we have been consistently reaching the following muicipalities: AGUADA CABO ROJO CANOVANAS CATANO FAJARDO PENUELAS MARICAO UTUADO Online sales will start during the month of October. Changes/Problems:During this program period we were able to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition among participants by: (a) increasing the total value of participants' NAP funds; (b) improving nutrition through increased purchasing/consumption of fruits and vegetables; and (c) achieve sustainability and food sovereignty through agricultural self- sufficiency. 1. During the initial months of the project (January-March 2025), our primary focus was on recruiting a qualified GusNIP Program Officer. This proved to be a challenging process due to the difficulty in identifying a fully bilingual candidate. As a result, outreach to our target audience was limited during this period.We successfully hired our Program Officer, Lizzie Pérez, at the end of March 2025. She quickly completed onboarding and began implementation efforts soon thereafter. 2. Our GusNIP food incentive box impact started in Jun, 2025, once the program officer was hired. We have increased our food impacts until May 2026 to ensure our program deliverables are aligned with goals.We do not expect to have to request a no cost extension and this time. 3. Our Online Purchasing option was also delayed pending State Agency approal,which has been resolved and will be up and running during the month of October 2025. We will also increase the monthly on-line food incenive option to ensure we are aligned with the estimated amount of distributed incentives. All of the aforementioned extraordinary food incentive efforts should be resolved on, or before, May 2026 when monthly impacts will decrease back to the estimated amounts that were submitted during our application process. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Our new hire was trained on all NIFA and Nutrition Incentive Hub program and reporting requirements. Our allied agencies, who will run our program in distinct areas of the island were also trainged on all program and reporting requirements. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As detailed above, during the next reporting period we plan to: 1. Align with the previously established food incentive box schedule (increase box distribution until May 2026 and later decrease back to the previoulsy established monthly impacts in all communities). As of right now, all of the participating communities are complying with their program requirements and, once the program was implemented in all communities, we are seeing monthly increase in food incentives and proper evidence retention. We are happy with our communities eagerness to engage in this program as well as their public. 2. During the month of November 2025 our Caja Verde Educational program component will start and will impact the previously mentioned communities. Our education efforts have already started as all incentive boxes have various educational pamphlets regarding proper nutrition. 3. Our online redemption option will start on October, as we were finally able to obtainState Agency approal in September. All programming and platform tests have been conducted and are ready to start. 4. The $441,970 federal cash on hand will be used in its entirety during the months of September and October 2025 to make large food purchases for the food boxes that will distributed in the upcoming months. This number is elevated as, previously discussed, we will be increasing our food incentive boxes to align with the established timeline.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this program period we were able to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition among participants by: (a) increasing the total value of participants' NAP funds; (b) improving nutrition through increased purchasing/consumption of fruits and vegetables; and (c) achieve sustainability and food sovereignty through agricultural self- sufficiency. During the September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025 first-year period we: 1. Completed 100% out of the 200 sruveys that was required during the program's first year. 2. Distributed 1,192 out of the 7,440 food incentive boxes in 8 different communities. 3.Our food incentive box distribution started in June. 2025, due to project plannig, personnel recruitment and purchasing processes.We expect to be fully "caught-up" with our original impact numbers (620 on-site food boxes per month ($40 per box, 8 sites); 7,440 per year) on or before May,2026 as we are increasing our monthly impact in order to avoid a no cost program extension or any other change to our program. We were expected to distributed 200 boxes per month through our online distribution partner.Were not able to distribute online incentive food boxes, however, due to delays in online form approval by our State Agency, which we have been working to secure since March, 2025. We finally secured online form approval in September and will start online ditributions in October.

Publications