USDA to buy food under Section 32
| Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Friday announced USDA’s intent to purchase up to $230 million in fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need, Rollins said. These “USDA Foods” are provided to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service nutrition assistance programs, including food banks that operate The Emergency Food Assistance Program. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will purchase $230 million of the following commodities: |
| Alaska pollock: $100 million Dried cranberries: $25 million Dry beans: $50 million (black $16 million, pinto $13 million, kidney $10 million, navy $3 million, Great Northern $6 million, small red $2 million) Farm-raised catfish: $20 million Fresh apples: $35 million |
| Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Hoeven, R-N.D., said in a news release, “These local food purchases are a win-win situation, providing another market for our hard-working producers while filling food banks and other local organizations that help with nutrition assistance.” USApple President and CEO Jim Bair said, “USApple greatly appreciates this USDA action, especially when market conditions are so adverse toward growers.” |
