The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) - Produce Prescription Program supports projects that demonstrate and evaluate the impact of fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions to increase procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce individual and household food insecurity, and reduce healthcare usage and associated costs.
NIFA requests applications for the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program to conduct projects that demonstrate and evaluate the impact of fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions to (1) increase procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, (2) reduce individual and household food insecurity, and (3) reduce healthcare usage and associated costs.
Eligibility Information
For applicants
Applicants to GusNIP programs are encouraged to partner and collaborate broadly throughout the healthcare system and the food system. Non-profit organizations and government agencies are eligible to apply for the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program.
Funding Opportunity
Thank you for your interest in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription. This funding opportunity is closed. At the beginning of each fiscal year, NIFA publishes the for the Upcoming RFA Calendar for all NIFA funding opportunities. This calendar is regularly updated. Use the link in the right to access a copy of the Request for Application (RFA) and the Technical Assistance Webinar. Visit the GusNIP-PPR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page to review common applicant questions about eligibility, program policy, program area, and application content.
The primary goal and objective of the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program is to demonstrate and evaluate the impact of projects on (1) the improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; (2) the reduction of individual and household food insecurity; and (3) the reduction in healthcare use and associated costs.
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program
GusNIP NTAE Center
The GusNIP NTAE’s Nutrition Incentive Hub provides free one-on-one support - including templates, checklists, webinars, and other resources - to all GusNIP grantees and applicants. Applicants are highly encouraged to take advantage of these technical assistance resources and services. Please visit the resource page.
The Nutrition Incentive Hub also offers several resources specifically developed to assist with the Request for Applications (RFA).
For specific questions related to GusNIP proposal development or GusNIP project implementation, the technical assistance team may be reached at: ta@nutritionincentivehub.org.
For specific questions related to reporting and evaluation, the reporting and evaluation team may be reached at: evaluation@nutritionincentivehub.org.
A list of current GusNIP Produce Prescription awardees can be found on the Nutrition Incentive Hub’s map of grantee projects.
The PPR Measuring Healthcare Use and Healthcare Cost resource is now online on the Nutrition Incentive Hub website. The purpose of this resource is to support GusNIP/CRR/ARPA PPR grantees in addressing the GusNIP PPR RFA requirement to measure healthcare use and cost. We are hopeful this resource can be added to the list of Resources for Applicants on USDA’s PPR website. This resource is referred to on pg. 21 of the 2024 PPR RFA: “A menu of potential healthcare utilization and healthcare cost metrics can be found via the GusNIP Produce Prescription request for applications resource page.”
Letter of Support from NTAE - The 2024 GusNIP RFA requires all applicants to have a consultation session of approximately 1 hour with the GusNIP NTAE Center’s Nutrition Incentive Hub. This requirement can be met by attending a group session, a one-on-one session, or attending a webinar hosted by the NTAE. To document completion of your consultation, all applications must include a letter of support from the GusNIP NTAE Center in their proposal. Upon completing your 1 hour required consultation, participants will receive a link to generate a letter of support.
You must request this letter of support for your application – the NTAE will not automatically generate one for you. Produce Prescription Program letter of support requests received by midnight ET each Friday will be sent to requestors the following Tuesday; with the exception of the week of February 26th as the RFA is due on February 28th. During this final week of the open RFA period all letter requests forms must be received by midnight ET on Monday, February 26th. We strongly encourage applicants to request their letter well in advance of February 26th. Complete the LINK "https://tfaforms.com/5102678" to schedule a consultation.
Resources for Awardees
Proper acknowledgment of your USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding in published manuscripts, posters, presentations, press releases, and other communications is critical for the success of our agency’s programs. We ask that you acknowledge USDA NIFA funding by using the...
The Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) is a secure, web-based electronic payment and information system developed jointly by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. ASAP.gov allows organizations to receive federal funds, at no charge to federal...
The Research, Extension, and Education Project Online Reporting Tool (REEport) is NIFA’s primary grant reporting application for non-capacity projects, which includes all competitive grant programs. The application collects both technical and financial data related to non-capacity projects and...
*Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.