Release No. 0303.08
Contact: Marci Hilt (202) 720-4623
Printable version
USDA's "Stocks for Food" Program Turns Raw Commodities into Food
Bartering Program Feeds Millions in Need
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- At a time when more and more people need help to feed
their families, USDA is using a creative "Stocks for Food" bartering initiative
to turn government stocks of commodities such as cotton, grains, peanuts, and
non-fat dry milk into products such as canned vegetables, meats and peanut
butter to help stock food banks and feeding programs.
"Since November 1, USDA's 'Stocks for Food' program has generated more than
$12 million in barter assets to boost assistance to U.S. domestic and foreign
nutrition programs," said Mark Keenum, USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services. "By the end of December, USDA expects to use the program
to provide an additional $11 million worth of canned tuna and $11 million in
canned chicken for the Food and Nutrition Service's Emergency Food Assistance
Program."
In July of 2007, USDA began bartering government-owned bulk commodities with
U.S. food processors in exchange for value-added agricultural products to be
distributed through USDA's domestic and international food assistance programs.
"When we came up with the concept of bartering for food aid, we were paying a
lot to store government-owned commodities and we were looking for ways to
augment tight budgets for domestic and overseas food aid programs," said Keenum.
"USDA staff looked 'outside of the box' to bolster our efforts to feed the
hungry," Keenum said. "And, this program saves taxpayer dollars by reducing
government costs associated with storing the commodities."
"The 'Stocks for Food' program has been a win for all, especially low-income
people in this country and around the world who receive U.S. food assistance,"
said Nancy Montanez Johner, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services. "Bartering government-owned commodity stocks for processed
products like vegetable oil and flour, as well as meat, can help us meet an
increasing demand for food assistance."
This initiative provides additional finished and semi-processed food products
to food banks and other local agencies to help meet domestic food assistance
needs. Domestic food programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
and The Emergency Food Assistance Program receive 80 percent of the benefits
under the 'Stocks for Food' program.
In addition, under USDA's McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and
Child Nutrition Program, the 'Stocks for Food' initiative will have produced
over $26 million in additional assistance to benefit more than 700,000 children
in several low-income countries by the end of this year. The McGovern-Dole
Program helps promote education, child development, and food security for some
of the world's poorest children.
"I am proud of the USDA personnel who responded quickly and creatively,"
Keenum said. "And, it's gratifying to know that advocates for the less fortunate
have also applauded the program. It's a great way to use our available resources
to help others."
"I commend USDA for its incredible vision in creating the 'Stocks for Food'
program," Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer for Feeding
America (Formerly named America's Second Harvest), said. "Over the past year
this innovative program has provided millions of pounds of nutritious food for
hungry Americans as food banks and emergency feeding organizations throughout
the United States struggle to meet record demands."
Since July of 2007 over $138 million in commodities has been bartered, with
more than $15 million in additional government inventories expected to be
swapped in the near future.
"Although market conditions and the availability of government-owned stocks
determine the scope of this program," Keenum said, "it is a novel initiative
that complements existing efforts to provide food assistance."
Note to editors: Contact for Feeding America (Formerly named America's Second
Harvest): Ross Fraser, Media Relations Manager, (312) 641-6422;
rfraser@feedingamerica.org.
Last modified:
12/10/2008
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