Farmers, Families and SNAP – Gus Schumacher

When debates over SNAP funding heat up, it’s worth remembering leaders like Gus Schumacher ---the late USDA Under Secretary who championed farm-to-family connections and bipartisan solutions. This Farm To Table talk episode revisits his insights on SNAP innovation, nutrition incentives and lasting ways to strengthen food access for all. Gus Schumacher, who passed away in 2017, was a respected agricultural economist and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Agriculture. He served as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the USDA from 1997 to 2001, overseeing the Farm Service Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Risk Management Agency.Beyond his government service, Gus helped found the Wholesome Wave Foundation and championed reforms that continue to shape agricultural and food policy today. The USDA’s Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program proudly bears his name — a lasting tribute to his vision for connecting farmers and families through healthy food.