FoodWIse – Nutrition Education
Important update: The congressional budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4, 2025 ends federal SNAP-Ed funding effective September 30, 2025.
For more than 30 years, UW–Madison Extension has provided local nutrition education across Wisconsin through the federal SNAP-Ed grant program. Working with schools, food pantries, farmers markets, and community centers, FoodWIse has taught practical, evidence-based skills in meal planning, food safety, and food resource management, helping people stretch food dollars and make healthier choices.
Because of this change in federal funding, Extension is currently winding down SNAP-Ed-funded programming. FoodWIse programming will continue through September 30, 2025, with staff winding down between October 1st and December 1st, 2025.
We know you may have questions. You can find answers to common questions on our state FoodWIse webpage.
Extension will continue the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Rock, and Waukesha counties, which have been identified as ENFEP priority areas in partnership with the National Institute of Agriculture (NIFA). You can learn more about our EFNEP programming here.
For questions about local programming, please reach out to local Area Extension Director, Mary Pardee (mary.pardee@wisc.edu), with your questions.
FoodWIse, previously called Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program (WNEP), is funded by the USDA and is designed to provide nutrition education that helps limited resource families and individuals choose healthful diets, purchase and prepare healthful food and handle it safely, and become more food secure by spending their food dollars wisely. Ashland County sites include: elementary schools, senior centers, Head Start centers, youth clubs, food shelves, and more. To find a class near you or to discuss new opportunities, call the Extension Ashland County Office. To learn more about FoodWIse in Wisconsin see the state website.
Related Links of Interest
- Food & Nutrition Information Center (USDA National Agricultural Library)
- Fight BAC!® Partnership for Food Safety Education
- Gateway to U.S. Government Food Safety Information
- Nutrition.gov (Guide to Nutrition & Health Information on Federal Government websites)
- USDA Food Safety Information
- USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- American Dietetic Association
- American Heart Association
- American Diabetes Association
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Nutrition & Physical Activity information from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
- Food Safety & Health (UW Extension Food Safety and Food Preservation Information)
- National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia)
- Foodsense
FoodWIse – Nutrition Education Team
Stephanie Bakker
FoodWIse Nutrition Coordinator –
Ashland, Bayfield, Iron Counties
715-682-7017 x516 stephanie.bakker@wisc.edu
Marisa (Perlberg) Dyer
Healthy Communities Coordinator
Ashland County
715-682-7017 x512
marisa.perlberg@wisc.edu
In accordance with federal law and its enacting regulations, any person with limited English proficiency (LEP) has the right to request and receive information related to Extension’s educational programming and services in a language other than English. In order to receive assistance with interpretation and/or translation needs, or any other matter related to language access issues, please contact: oaic@extension.wisc.edu
