The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities in need through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program, according to a press release.
The announcement of contract awards for the program can be found here. For details on purchases, visit the solicitations page.
On April 17, 2020, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced this program as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program developed to help farmers, ranchers and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is partnering with national, regional and local suppliers, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels and other food service businesses, to purchase up to $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat products. The program will purchase $461 million in fresh fruits and vegetables, $317 million in a variety of dairy products, $258 million in meat and poultry products and $175 million in a combination box of fresh produce, dairy or meat products. Suppliers will package these products into family-sized boxes, then transport them to food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits serving Americans in need from May 15 through June 30, 2020.
AMS noted that they may elect to extend the period of performance of the contracts, via option periods, dependent upon program success and available remaining funds, up to $3 billion.
