USDA announced its intent to purchase $27 million in pork products as part of a $156-million-purchase of agricultural commodities under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935 from American farmers and producers to distribute to schools and food banks and across the country.
Section 32 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make commodity purchases, entitlement purchases and disaster assistance — using funds appropriated annually from U.S. customs receipts — to encourage the continued domestic consumption of products. USDA annually buys pork and other commodities for federal food programs, including school breakfast and lunch programs.
USDA AMS will purchase $156 million of the following commodities:
Canned Peaches: $4 million
Concord Grape Juice: $20 million
Fresh Mandarins: $25 million
Pork Products: $27 million
Prunes: $5 million
Raisins: $25 million
Walnuts: $30 million
Wild-Caught Shrimp: $20 million
“USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) continuously purchases a variety of domestically produced and processed agricultural products,” USDA says. “These ‘USDA Foods’ are provided to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) nutrition assistance programs, including food banks that operate The National School Lunch Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and are a vital component of the nation’s food safety net.”
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Rob Brenneman, a pork producer from Washington County, Iowa, appreciates USDA’s decision to purchase pork.
“More high-quality, wholesome and nutrient dense protein is on its way to American schools and food banks across the country thanks to this purchase of U.S. pork,” Brenneman says. “America’s pork producers applaud USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and the administration for this significant step in what is a challenging market -- and for recognizing the needs of farm country and Americans who deserve reliable sources of good food go hand in hand.”
