USDA approves $1.2 billion in contracts for Farmers to Families Food Box Program
Through this program, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is partnering with national, regional and local suppliers to purchase up to $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat products.
On May 8, USDA said it approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities in need through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
“This is a new, innovative approach to provide critical support to American farmers and families, and USDA moved as expeditiously as federal procurement rules allow to stand up the program and solicit offers,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We were pleased to see the abundance of interest from both food distributors and nonprofit organizations. Within days, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program will begin distributing surplus food, while safeguarding food safety techniques, to communities across the country where it’s needed most.”