Release No. 0211.04

Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623
George Chartier (202) 720 8998

Veneman Announces Purchase of Up to 14.5 Million Pounds of Frozen and Canned Apricots

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2004 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced USDA’s plan to purchase up to 14.5 million pounds of canned and frozen apricots. The apricots will be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs.

“This purchase will provide recipients of our federal food programs with a nutritious product,” said Veneman. 

USDA already has purchased a total of 1.5 million pounds of apricot products since Oct. 1, 2003. USDA purchased 25.6 million pounds of apricots in fiscal year 2003.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products each year for distribution by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service 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. 

More information on USDA programs is available at http://www.usda.gov  

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