April 2020
Under the auspices of a program announced on April 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to purchase fruits and vegetables, dairy products and meats valued at an estimated $300 million per month for food insecure families.
The Farmers to Families Food Box Purchase Program is also intended to benefit farmers who face unprecedented challenges in marketing their perishable foods because of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
According to the agency’s announcement, distributors and dealers will package the foods in pre-approved boxes that will be provided for food banks and other non-profit organizations serving families in need.
The USDA is soliciting proposals from distributors for this program. Agency officials have previously announced that up to $3 billion in agricultural products will be provided to food-insecure families under the overall Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program.
For more information about the Food Box Purchase Program, visit https://bit.ly/2W27ntM.