Release No. 0115.08
Contact: Clara Lau (202) 720-8998
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
Printable version
Schafer Announces Purchase of Up to
$50 Million in Pork Products
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2008 – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced USDA's
plan to purchase up to $50 million of pork products which will be donated to
child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs.
"We provide food assistance to one in every five Americans," said Schafer.
"We are working to increase benefits due to rising food costs and to ensure we
have full funding for our food assistance programs."
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.
Based upon USDA's intent to buy these pork products, 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 purchased food 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
www.usda.gov.
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Last modified:
12/05/2008
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