ST. PAUL — Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon has announced the launch of the Minnesota Nutritious Food Coalition.

Her office said it’s a public-private partnership to ensure that more low-income Minnesotans, particularly seniors, can purchase healthy foods and eat more nutritiously.

The coalition met for the first time Tuesday and will meet quarterly in the future. Members are seeking to develop a coordinated outreach effort to ensure all Minnesotans who are eligible for the federal Food Support program formerly known as Food Stamps have an opportunity to apply.

Prettner Solon says more than 500,000 Minnesotans access Food Support benefits monthly, but only 65 percent of eligible Minnesotans and 41 percent of eligible seniors are in the program.