Banco De Alimentos Puerto Rico Inc

PUERTO RICO HAS THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE OF ANY US JURISDICTION AT 42%: THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE OF 12.6%. THE ISLAND IMPORTS 85% OF THE FOOD CONSUMED USING A STRICTLY FEDERALLY REGULATED MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RESULTING INSIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOOD PRICES THAN THE US MAINLAND. THIS TRIANGLE OF FOOD INSECURITY RESULTS IN FOOD INSECURITY LEVELS THAT TRIPLE THE US AVERAGE AND EVEN HIGHER IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS. PUERTO RICO PARTICIPATES IN THE NAP PROGRAM LARGELY SIMILAR TO SNAP BUT MANAGED AS A BLOCK-GRANT. ON AVERAGE A 1-PERSON NAP HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES $189/MO.THE ENHANCED 2026 MASPAN PROGRAM SEEKS TO EXPAND ITS CURRENT PROGRAM TO 10 COMMUNITIESACROSS PUERTO RICO AND ENHANCE IT BY PARTNERING WITH THE STATE NAP AGENCY AT THE MONTHLY MERCADOS FAMILIARES (MFS). THE PROGRAM WILL HAVE A 2-PRONG REDEMPTION APPROACH FOR REACHING PARTICIPANTS:1. IN-PERSON: BAPR WILL WORK WITH DISTRIBUTE IN 10 MFS ACROSS THE ISLAND THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLYDISTRIBUTED AND WERE CHOSEN DUE TO HIGHER LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND PAN PARTICIPATION GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (URBAN AND RURAL AREAS). BDAPR WILL COLLECT PURCHASE RECEIPTS DELIVER PRODUCT INCENTIVES TO PARTICIPANTS ONSITE. HAVING DISTRIBUTIONS AT MERCADOS FAMILIARES WILL HELP SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS AS PARTICIPANTS CAN COMPLETE THEIR $20 QUALIFYING PURCHASE AT THE MARKETS AND REDEEM THEIR INCENTIVES ONSITE.2. ONLINE: FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH PHYSICAL OR TRANSPORTATION LIMITATIONS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CPE TO PROVIDE AN ONLINE ORDERING PLATFORM WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN PLACE THEIR ORDER RECEIVE INCENTIVE BOXES AND HAVE EVERYTHING HOME-DELIVERED FREE OF CHARGE. PAYMENT WILL BE DONE IN PERSON AT DELIVERY THROUGH PAN EBT TERMINALS (CPE IS A PAN-APPROVED VENDOR).3. THE PROJECT INCLUDES NUTRITION EDUCATION THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL INCENTIVE BOXES MONTHLY. WE HAVE ALSO INCORPORATED THE CAJA VERDE AGRI-EDUCATION PROGRAM. THESE SERIES OF SEMINARS WILL EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON HOME AGRICULTURE TO DRIVE FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND HELP ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO ENSURE NAP PARTICIPANTS IN PUERTO RICO PURCHASE AND CONSUME MORE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WHILE PROMOTING THE LOCAL AGRI-ECONOMY.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PUERTO RICO HAS THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE OF ANY US JURISDICTION AT 42%: THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE US AVERAGE OF 12.6%[1]. THE ISLAND IMPORTS 85% OF THE FOOD CONSUMED, USING A STRICTLY FEDERALLY REGULATED MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOOD PRICES THAN THE US MAINLAND. THIS TRIANGLE OF FOOD INSECURITY RESULTS IN FOOD INSECURITY LEVELS THAT TRIPLE THE US AVERAGE, AND EVEN HIGHER IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS.PUERTO RICO'S VERSION OF THE SNAP PROGRAM, NAP (OR PAN IN SPANISH), IS A BLOCK-GRANT. UNLIKE SNAP, WHICH ALLOCATES STATE FUNDS ACCORDING TO POPULATION NEEDS, PUERTO RICO'S NAP PROGRAM IS ALLOCATED A SET BLOCK AMOUNT REGARDLESS OF NEED. THIS PREVENTS NAP FROM EFFECTIVELY RESPONDING TO THE NUTRITION ASSISTANCE NEEDS OF THE ISLAND'S POPULATION. SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN THE 1980S, BLOCK GRANTING HAS REDUCED PARTICIPATION RATES AND AVERAGE PER-HOUSEHOLD MONTHLY ALLOCATION BY A STAGGERING 50%. ON AVERAGE, A 1-PERSON NAP HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES $189/MO, WHILE AN EQUAL HOUSEHOLD WOULD RECEIVE $291/MO. WITH SNAP.THESE ELEMENTS HAVE RESULTED IN FOOD INSECURITY LEVELS THAT ARE TWICE AS HIGH AS THE NEXT HIGHEST US STATE (31% VS. MISSISSIPPI AT 17%), AND THREE TIMES THE US NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 10% (FEEDING AMERICA, MAP THE MEAL GAP, 2023.THE NEW, PROPOSED 2024 BAPRS GUSNIP FLSP (LARGE SCALE) PROGRAM SEEKS TO EXPAND ITS CURRENT PILOT PROGRAM TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS PUERTO RICO. THE PROGRAM WILL HAVE A 2-PRONG REDEMPTION APPROACH FOR REACHING PARTICIPANTS:IN-PERSON: BAPR WILL WORK WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN 9 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE ISLAND THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTRIBUTED AND WERE CHOSEN DUE TO THE: HIGHER LEVELS FOOD INSECURITY AND PAN PARTICIPATION, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (URBAN AND RURAL AREAS), AND COMPLIANCE AND GOOD-STANDING WITH THE BAPR. THESE AGENCIES WILL SERVE AS REDEMPTION HUBS FOR NEARBY COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THE PROGRAM IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE MOST PARTICIPANTS. THEY WILL COLLECT PURCHASE RECEIPTS, DELIVER PRODUCT INCENTIVES TO PARTICIPANTS, AND REGISTER DATA USING OUR FEEDING AMERICA NEIGHBOR INTAKE PLATFORM INSIGHTS. THIS WILL ENSURE ACCESS TO PARTICIPANTS THAT DO NOT HAVE EASY ACCESS TO ONLINE SOURCES.ONLINE: FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH LIMITED OR NO TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CPE TO PROVIDE AN ONLINE ORDERING PLATFORM, WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN PLACE THEIR ORDER, RECEIVE INCENTIVE BOXES, AND HAVE EVERYTHING HOME-DELIVERED FREE OF CHARGE. PAYMENT WILL BE DONE IN PERSON THROUGH PAN EBT TERMINALS (CPE IS A PAN-APPROVED VENDOR).THE PROJECT INCLUDES NUTRITION EDUCATION THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL INCENTIVE BOXES AND WILL ROTATE MONTHLY. WE HAVE ALSO INCORPORATED HOME AGRICULTURE EDUCATION THROUGH OUR CAJA VERDE PROGRAM. THESE SERIES OF SEMINARS WILL EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON HOME AGRICULTURE TO DRIVE FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND HELP ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. OUR FRESH PRODUCTS MOBILE PANTRY PROGRAM, TARGETED TO LAUNCH 2025-26, WILL ALSO PROVIDE CONTINUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY TO THE PURCHASING BEHAVIOR,CHANGES WE WILL ACHIEVE THROUGH THE 4-YEAR GRANT PERIOD.OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO ENSURE NAP PARTICIPANTS IN PUERTO RICO PURCHASE AND CONSUME MORE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. DURING THEPROGRAM PERIOD WE PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO 1,000 NAP PARTICIPANTS MONTHLY IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT PUERTO RICO, INCLUDING VIEQUES, ENSURING A MINIMUM OF $1MM IN PURCHASES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH NAP DOLLARS. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED WITH MONTHLY COMMUNITY IMPACTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES AND ONLINE AND TELEPHONE PURCHASES THROUGH OUR ONLINE PORTAL.

BANCO DE ALIMENTOS WILL PARTENR WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS(CENTROS 330) TO ADDRESS 2 OF THE MOST PROMINENT CONDITIONS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN PUERTO RICO(DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION) THROUGH HEALHTIER EATING HABITS. THROUGH HEALTH SCREENING ANDO OUR MALNUTRITION AND FOOD INSECURITY SCREENING TEST, WE WILL IDENTIFY 200 OLDER ADULTS (65+) WITHA HEALTH CONDITION THAT CAN BE MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED WITH PROPER NUTRITION AND PROVIDE NUTRITIONALLY AND CONDITION-APPROPRIATE FOOD BOXES ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO HELP MANAGE AND IMPROVE THESE HEALTH CONDITIONS. THESE FOOD BOXESS WILL CONTAIN CONTITION-APPROPRIATE FRESH PRODUCE (FRUITS AND VEGETABLES) TO HELP INPROVE NUTRITION AND THUS HEALTH CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION TO PRODUCE, THESE BOXXES WILL CONTAIN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO PROPER CONDITION MANAGEMENT.FOOD BOXES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED MONTLHY BY CLINIC PERSONNEL WHO WILL ALSO CONDUCT MONTHLY HEALTH MONITORING AND HEALTH EDUCATION. THIS MONTHLY MONITORING WILL BE REPORTED ON A QUARTERLY AND YEARLY TRACKIGN REPORT THAT WILL HELP US MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.

ECOMMERCE HAS GROWN IN RECENT YEARS, BUT FARMERS, RANCHERS AND SEAFOOD HARVESTERS FOCUSED ON SELLING LOCALLY-PRODUCED MEAT AND FISH HAVE STRUGGLED TO ADAPT. CHANGING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ONLINE MARKETING AND SHIPPING FROZEN M

BANCO DE ALIMENTOS DE PUERTO RICO ,INC.'S (BAPR) MISSION IS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE GOOD NOURISHMENT TO THE POPULATION IN NEED, BY INCREASING THE PURCHASE OF LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BY NAP PARTICIPANTS IN PUERTO RICO. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE WITH THE PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM LOCAL NAP APPROVED VENDORS TO BE USED IN THE ACQUISITION OF FOOD PRODUCTS AT BAPR. THE NAP PARTICIPATING AGENCIES WILL PRESENT THE PROOF OF PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (RECEIPT FROM LOCAL NAP APPROVED RETAILER) TO BAPR AND THEY WILL RECEIVE A $0.50 CREDIT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT TO RECEIVE SNAP/NAP ELIGIBLE FOODS AT THE BAPR. THE FOLLOWING IS ALSO NECESSARY:1. CERTIFIED NAP PARTICIPATING COMMERCE, MUST BE LISTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY / ADSEF2. DETAILED RECEIPT INDICATING COMMERCE, DATE, TIME, AND PAYMENT METHOD3. A MINIMUM OF TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) MUST BE SPENT ON FRUITS AND VEGETABLES4. PAYMENT METHOD MUST BE THE FAMILY CARDBAPR CURRENTLY WORKS WITH 22 AGENCIES AROUND THE ISLAND THAT TAKE CARE OF FOOD INSECURE, POVERTY-STRICKEN OLDER ADULTS AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THESE AGENCIES USE INDIVIDUALS NAP BENEFIT CARDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOOD PRODUCTS, TO PURCHASE FOOD THAT THEY PREPARE TO FEED THEIR PARTICIPANTS BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNERS DAILY. THESE AGENCIES HAVE A TIGHT BUDGET AND MUST MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR PURCHASES. FOR THIS REASON, FRESH PRODUCE IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AS PRODUCE HAS EXPERIENCED RISING PRICES AND GENERALLY HAS A SHORT SHELF LIFE.