Release No. 0157.06
Contact: Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
Printable version
Johanns Announces Purchase of Up To 4 Million Pounds
of Canned and Frozen Asparagus
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2006 --
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced USDA's plan to purchase up to
2 million pounds of canned and 2 million pounds of frozen asparagus, to be
donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs.
In fiscal 2005, USDA purchased 3.7 million pounds of canned and 1.2 million
pounds of frozen asparagus, and purchased 4.6 million pounds of canned and 2.5
million pounds of frozen asparagus in fiscal 2004.
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases a variety of
high-quality food products each year for distribution by USDA's Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) for the national school lunch program, the school
breakfast program, the summer food service program, the food distribution
program on Indian reservations, the nutrition program for the elderly, the
commodity supplemental food program and the emergency food assistance program.
USDA also makes emergency purchases of commodities for distribution to victims
of natural disasters.
With today's announcement of USDA's intention to buy, FNS will survey
potential recipients to determine how much product will be accepted for
shipping. AMS will seek the lowest overall cost by publicly inviting bids to
supply the desired quantity and by awarding contracts to responsible bidders.
Government food experts work to ensure that all the food they purchase is
healthful and nutritious. Food items are normally required to be low in fat,
sugar and sodium. The commodities must meet specified grade requirements and be
USDA-inspected or graded to ensure quality. AMS purchases only products of 100
percent domestic origin.
More information about USDA programs is available at
http://www.usda.gov/
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