Glossary / Acronyms Definitons

ACS: American Community Survey; an ongoing survey by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides vital information on a yearly basis about the nation's people, including data on social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics.
ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed; refers to households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford basic necessities
Food desert: Urban or rural areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, typically due to a lack of grocery stores and healthy food providers
Food insecurity: The state where individuals lack consistent access to enough affordable, nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
LFS: Local Food System; the network of food production, processing, distribution, and consumption within a specific local area, focusing on minimizing the distance food travels and supporting local economies and sustainability.
NAICS: North American Industry Classification System; a standardized system used by businesses and governments in North America to classift and analyze industry performance and economic activity.
NSLP: National School Lunch Program; a federally assisted meal program providing low-cost or free lunches to children in public and nonprofit private schools, aimed at promoting healthy eating habits
SF6: Sulfur hexafluoride; a potent greenhouse gas used in various industrial applications, known for its high global warming potential
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; a federal aid program that offers food-purchasing assistance to low- and no- income individuals and families, previously known as food stamps.
Terrestrial carbon sequestration: The process of caputring and stroing atmospheric carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems, such as forest, grasslands, and soils, to mitigate climate change
WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children; a federal assistance program providing nutritious foods, nutrition education, and health care referrals to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children