USDA announces food purchases for charitable networks and nutrition programs

Photo: USDA USDA today announced its intent to purchase up to $472.5 million in American-grown and American-raised agricultural commodities to distribute to the charitable food network and other nutrition assistance programs.Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “Today’s $472.5 million investment moves American milk, cheese, lentils, almonds, rice, catfish, and more, straight from our farms to those in need, rather than being wasted.”USDA AMS will purchase $472.5 million of the following commodities: Chickpeas ($20 million) Lentils ($29 million) Split Peas ($37 million) Dried Fruit Mix ($10 million) Raisins ($25 million) Grapefruit ($10 million) Oranges ($10 million) Hazelnuts ($22 million) Almonds ($30 million) Pacific Whiting ($12 million) Farm-raised Catfish ($20 million) Pork ($41 million) Chicken ($20 million) Dairy ($165.5 million) Rice ($21 million) USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service continuously purchases a variety of domestically produced and processed agricultural products. These “USDA Foods” are provided to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration nutrition assistance programs and are a vital component of the nation’s nutrition safety net.Source: USDA