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Meet USDA Liaison Herminia Gomez

Herminia Gomez serves as a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) liaison, working closely with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the Northeast. HSIs are colleges and universities where the total Hispanic enrollment is at least 25% of the total student population. USDA partners with these institutions to connect students, faculty and staff with professional development, workforce development and educational opportunities.

The Southern Region Grows a Delicious Slice of the Nation’s Agricultural Pie

The Southern Region of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, is home to nearly 144,000 farming operations that produce a variety of commodities. Agriculture is deeply rooted in the region and has shaped it into an area known for its warm hospitality and delicious comfort food. What better embodies Southern hospitality than a freshly baked slice of pie?

USDA Enhances Market Coverage in Retail Outlets

Each week USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) publishes a series of retail reports through our Market News service that reflect advertised prices for products being featured to consumers at grocery stores across the country. We recently transitioned our retail reports covering red meats, poultry, and eggs to the My Market News platform, which allows users to filter and customize the information to meet their individual needs. This is part of an ongoing effort to modernize the AMS market reporting data collection and delivery system to improve the customer experience.

Unlocking a Workforce Superpower: L'Tonya Davis Reveals How Innovation Through Inclusion Drives Success at VBA Symposium

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is advancing its leadership in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) across the federal sector. On August 22, 2024, L'Tonya Davis, USDA’s first permanent Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, addressed HR professionals at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Training for Excellence Symposium. This year’s event, themed "To the Stars and Beyond," focused on equipping 1,000 HR leaders with the skills needed to address the evolving needs of the nation’s Veterans.

USDA Thinks Outside the Box at Inaugural Innovation Event

How can the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) build on innovation to better support sustainable American agriculture? Tackling that complex question was the driving force behind our inaugural USDA Innovation Symposium. USDA’s diverse mission requirements in technology and tools make creativity essential in leveraging today’s challenges into opportunities for innovation.

CAPAL Intern Driven to Change Food Insecurity

Nichole Espineli is studying for her master’s degree at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her determination, borne from her personal experience with food insecurity, led her to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) internship this past summer with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Reflections from the Road in Pennsylvania: Charting the Path Forward with Urban Agriculture and the Next Generation

Last month I attended the Northeast Regional Equity Convening hosted by the USDA and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on July 18, 2024. This was a unique opportunity to interact with fresh voices and discuss charged and meaningful topics like urban agriculture and nutrition sovereignty.