Where’s Xochitl, Now? Part Two: Chicago–Deputy Secretary Highlights USDA Support for Producers, Healthy School Meals During Chicago Trip

This article was published by the United States Department of Agriculture and it discusses the current work of a neighbor from our broader community, Under Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small.

Source: US Department of Agriculture (Photo: Courtesy)

On Friday (March 10, 2024), Deputy Secretary Torres Small was in the Chicago area for events highlighting efforts during the Biden-Harris Administration to create new revenue streams for producers and ensure children have access to healthy, nutritious food at school. 

In the morning, the Deputy Secretary and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) visited a market in Plainfield, IL, that received a Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) from Rural Development. While there, they toured the market and highlighted how programs like VAPG help agricultural producers adopt value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

Later that afternoon, the Deputy Secretary joined U.S. Representative Delia C. Ramirez (IL-3) at a local Chicago school to discuss actions taken to increase access to healthy, nutritious school meals, reduce child hunger, and improve kids’ overall health and well-being.