USDA Purchased Crops for Needy Families and Urges Farm Bill Passage
Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack TODAY announced the USDA’S intent to purchase up to
$126.4 million worth of fruit and vegetable products, to be distributed to
needy families under The Emergency
Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
"Food distribution
programs are a vital part of our Nation's nutrition safety net, and today's
food purchases will give communities additional means to help those in
need," Vilsack said. "A comprehensive Farm Bill is absolutely
critical to these efforts, and Congress should adequately support feeding programs
for American families by passing a new Farm Bill as soon as possible."
The USDA purchase is part
of the surplus removal program that helps stabilize prices in agricultural
commodity markets by balancing supply and demand, while providing healthy food
to soup kitchens, food pantries, and community action agencies across the
country.
USDA’s purchases will
include tart cherries, processed apples, cranberries, fresh tomatoes, wild
blueberries, and raisins, and expand efforts to provide high-quality,
wholesome, domestically produced foods.
A recent analysis found
that TEFAP foods
achieved a score 89 out of 100 on the Health Eating Index, a measure
of diet quality based on the Federal Dietary
Guidelines for Americans.
Labels: Calfornia Ag News, USDA Provides additional provisions to food banks, USDA purchased crops for Needy Families and urges Food Bill Passage