Food and Nutrition Service
HomeAbout FNSNewsroomHelpContact USEn Espanol

 

 

  

Search all USDA
Search Tips


Community Outreach
Data and Statistics
Financial Management
Forms
Food Safety
Grants
Nutrition Education
Regulations & Policy
Research
Services & Programs

 
 


You are here: Home > Newsroom > Press Releases
  Newsroom
 
 

Release No. 0230.08

Contact:   Jimmie Turner (202) 720-6179
Hakim Fobia (202) 720-8998

Printer Icon Printable version

Schafer Announces Purchase of Up To 3.6 Million Pounds of Fresh Tomatoes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2008 -- Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is purchasing up to 3.6 million pounds of fresh tomatoes with currently available Farm Bill funds. The tomatoes will be donated to child nutrition and other domestic 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). The products are distributed through FNS' 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 those affected by natural disasters.

With today's announcement, AMS will award immediately contracts for the desired quantity to responsible bidders.

Government food experts work to ensure that all of the food purchased is healthy and nutritious. Food items normally are 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.

 

Last modified: 12/05/2008