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USDA buys $177.4 million in commodities for nutrition programs

 

The USDA has purchased more than $177 million in commodities for nutrition assistance programs through a new streamlined process.

The agency says it will be able to better monitor market conditions and make purchases more consistently with the new procedure.

The first round of purchases includes $25 million for pork products, $25 million of tart cherries, $20 million for cheddar cheese, $8.5 million for Highbush blueberries and several other commodities to support the National School Lunch Program and other food assistance programs.

Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says the announcement will help Michigan cherry growers weather an unfair trade imbalance as Turkey has been dumping cherry products into the U.S.

President of the Cherry Marketing Institute Phil Korson says the purchases are a very big deal for the tart cherry industry and will help remove some surplus inventory that has been depressing growers’ prices.