Date: Friday, December 22, 2017 - 12:00pm

Contact Info: Michelle Person

WASHINGTON, Dec 22, 2017 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of 13 individuals, including 12 dairy producers and one importer, to serve three-year terms on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Their terms begin immediately and end on Oct. 31, 2020.

Newly appointed producers are:
Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon, and Washington)
Dolores J. Werkhoven, Monroe, Wash.

Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)
Orville D. Miller, Hutchinson, Kan.

Region 6 (Wisconsin)
Stacy Eberle, Monroe, Wis.
Becky L. Levzow, Rio, Wis.

Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska)
Alex D. Peterson, Trenton, Mo.

Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia)
Gregory A. Gibson, Bruceton Mills, W.Va.

Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia)
John M. Larson, Okeechobee, Fla.

Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Melissa C. Dziurgot, Durham, Conn.

Reappointed Producers are:
Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming)
James E. Webb, Delta, Colo.

Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)
William R. Anglin, Bentonville, Ark.

Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota)
Kathleen A. Skiba, North Branch, Minn.

Region 8 (Idaho)
John S. Ballard, Gooding, Idaho

Newly appointed Dairy Importer:
Ralph B. Hofman, Basking Ridge, N.J.

“These appointees will be valuable assets for the National Dairy Board as it carries out its coordinated program of promotion designed to strengthen the dairy industry’s position in the marketplace and to maintain and expand domestic and international markets for dairy products. They represent a cross section of the dairy industry and I know that it will be well served by them," said Perdue.

USDA established the 37-member Board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards that are industry-funded and empower agricultural industries with a framework to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

More information about the board is available on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board page on the AMS website, including a link to the Board’s membership under the heading Organizational Structure.

More information about research and promotion programs is available on the Research and Promotion Programs page on the AMS website.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

Date:  June 3, 2019

Contact Info:  Michelle Person

USDA Appoints Members to National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of seven members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. Six appointees will serve three-year terms, July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022. One appointee will serve the remaining two-year portion of a vacant position, effective immediately, and expiring June 30, 2021.

Newly appointed members are:

Robert D. Knodle, Lynnfield, Mass. (Region 1);

Joseph R. DePetrillo, Dallas, Texas (Region 4);

William H. Kelly, Chicago, Ill. (Region 7);

Timothy K. Kelly, Phoenix, Ariz.  (Region 8), (2-year term);

Joseph D. Reske, Dallas, Texas (Region 10); and

J. Everett Williams, Madison, Ga. (At-large, general public).

Newly reappointed are:

Rachel A. Kyllo, St. Paul, Minn. (At-large, processor).

The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public. The remaining at-large seat may be filled by a fluid milk processor or a member from the general public. The board was established by the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for fluid milk products.

The National Fluid Milk Program is financed by a mandatory 20-cent per hundredweight assessment on all fluid milk processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Processors who commercially process and market three million pounds or less per month, excluding those fluid milk products delivered to the residence of a consumer, are exempt from assessments.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity. Information about these programs is available on the Research and Promotion Programs page on the AMS website.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

Date: Thursday, December 7, 2017 - 3:00pm

Contact Info: Michelle Person

Release No.:  134-17

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public hearing beginning Dec. 12, 2017, through Dec. 14, 2017, to consider a proposal seeking to provide emergency reimbursement to Florida milk handlers and dairy producers for costs incurred as a result of market disruptions stemming from Hurricane Irma. The hearing will begin on Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Embassy Suites, 513 S Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602.

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma caused widespread devastation throughout the entire state of Florida, resulting in dairy processing and manufacturing plant closures, store closures, and extensive road closures.

USDA is holding the hearing on an emergency basis to consider a proposal submitted by Southeast Milk, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Premier Milk, Inc., Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc., and Lone Star Milk Producers, L.C. At the hearing, USDA will take testimony and receive evidence regarding the proposal.

The proposal seeks to amend the Florida Federal Milk Marketing Order through a temporary supplemental charge on Class I milk to provide financial relief to milk handlers and dairy producers for financial losses incurred as a result of Hurricane Irma. Under the proposal, milk handlers and dairy producers could receive limited reimbursement for demonstrated financial losses.

The hearing notice and a supplemental hearing notice will appear in the Dec. 11, 2017, Federal Register. Those interested in participating in the hearing should notify a USDA official upon arrival at the hearing.

For a copy of the hearing notice and additional information, contact Erin Taylor, Acting Director, Order Formulation and Enforcement Division, USDA/AMS/Dairy Program, Stop 0231-Room 2973-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0231; (202) 720-7311; e-mail address: erin.taylor@ams.usda.gov.

Persons requiring a sign language interpreter or other reasonable accommodations should contact Sherry Swanson, AMS Dairy Program, at (470) 767-5084, e-mail: sswanson@fmmatlanta.com, before the hearing begins.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2020 - 2:00pm

Contact Info:

Public Affairs

PA@usda.gov

(202) 720-8998

Release No.:164-20

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2020 - Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining strengthened coordination between the FDA and the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to facilitate the export of milk and milk products from the United States. U.S. dairy exports are valued at nearly $6 billion annually.

“The rising trend by trading partners requesting additional information and assurances from dairy exporters requires an exceptional level of coordination by government authorities to address and facilitate requests,” said Frank Yiannas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response. “This MOU reflects a concerted, modern approach to leverage our collective strengths as we move into a New Era of Smarter Food Safety.”

“Signing the MOU is an important milestone in the continued collaboration between USDA and FDA,” stated USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach, Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “With the MOU in place, USDA and FDA have clearly defined the critical functions needed to assist the dairy industry to improve efficiency and effectiveness by focusing on the core competencies of each agency to engage on certain issues.”

USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney said, “This MOU will help USDA and FDA address the challenges faced by U.S. dairy exporters and keep them competitive in the global marketplace. I’m confident that it will help facilitate trade and help expand exports of wholesome, high-quality, U.S. dairy products.”

The FDA is the competent authority providing regulatory oversight of programs that cover U.S. dairy facilities, ensuring the safety of milk and milk products, while the USDA, through its dairy grading service, is the lead agency on issuing dairy sanitary certificates, coordinating interagency collaboration related to U.S. exports of milk and milk products, and negotiating with foreign countries on certifications to meet their importing requirements.

Background:

Under the MOU, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is the lead agency providing export-related services for milk and milk products and the issuance of more than 55,000 dairy sanitary export certificates annually to more than 125 countries. FAS remains the lead authority for international negotiations on trade of milk and milk products. USDA will manage foreign country facility-specific questionnaires.

USDA and FDA will collaborate on specific country certificate requirements with FDA maintaining the listing of facilities eligible to export and working with USDA to assess opportunities to develop an electronic platform for sharing information more efficiently.

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2020 - 12:30pm

Contact Info:

USDA Press

press@oc.usda.gov

(Washington, D.C., September 29, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that more than 100 million food boxes have been distributed in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Earlier this month, the Department announced it had entered into contracts with 50 entities for the third round of food box deliveries, which include contracts to purchase up to $1 billion authorized by President Donald J. Trump.

“It is incredible to think that in a little more than five months, this food box program has gone from an idea to a reality that has provided more than 100 million boxes of nutritious foods to people in need and along the way has helped to keep farmers and ranchers in business and allowed Americans working in our nation’s food supply chain to get back to work,” said Secretary Perdue. “I have been meeting with food banks and recipients across the country and it’s been heartening to hear all the positive feedback on how the program has saved businesses and fed Americans in need. We are now into the third round of deliveries and we’re working harder than ever to continue to build on the success of the program.”

“With 100 million Farmers to Families Food Boxes delivered, we have utilized critical funding authorized by President Trump to continue connecting our great American farmers to millions of food insecure families. I am proud of this Administration’s mission to keep our most vulnerable families fed and support American family farms in the process,” said Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump.

You may view the Farmers to Families Food Box Program video or click on the image below to watch a highlight video of USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program in action across the United States:

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Rep. Rodney Davis: We are going to help people today to continue this program, but let this be a lesson learned of how the government can work efficiently and should work efficiently.

Client of Pike County Ecumenical Food Pantry: Thank you very much for our delivery today. It will be gobbled up!! You are truly a Godsend! I’m not terrified anymore and knowing I can count on these delivered items has changed our life. Thank you. May God bless all your efforts!

Brian Barks, Food Bank for the Heartland CEO: It’s great product. Its premium grade A produce that we are receiving that has helped us a lot.

Lizette Alent, Executive Director of the Inland Northwest Farmers Market Association: A 3-year-old boy started “screaming and dancing” at the sight of blueberries last week. He was looking into a free, 30-pound box of food his family picked up at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market.

Karol Widmer, Fairwood Farmers Market manager: It’s a win-win…The USDA program supports local farmers, farmers markets and families.

Daniel Champagne, Vernon Mayor: It was a great opportunity to get 15 pounds of fresh apples, carrots, celery and other items to seniors and families in our community.

Michaela Kopf of Lexington Community Foundation: The boxes have been a hit within the community…The good thing is how nutritionally diverse the boxes are…They get one box of produce, a box of dairy, sometimes we get milk, and then one box of proteins…And it's different every week.

Doug Groendyke, Harvest Hope food sourcer: When you’re feeding tens of thousands of people every week, this new program from the USDA and all the farmers who’ve contributed to this program, it’s been paramount to feed the clients...People need help, and that’s what we’re here for. And to be able to provide fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, dairy, dry goods to feed their families and put it on their plate, that’s huge. That’s tremendous.

Chalmers Carr, owner of Titan Farms: Then the USDA Farmers to Families program came out, and we were able to establish new markets, save the latter half of our crop. We still lost money, but that point in time we were able to participate, harvest our crop, and that meant a lot. And there’s more stories like that all across this country, where this program has helped farmers, has helped people in need and has also helped the food banks.

Jackie King, King Crop Insurance, Inc.: The Farmers to Families Food Box Programs has included our producers right here on the great Delmarva. This helps feed hungry families with the added benefit of supporting our local agriculture economy.

Phil Ciccone, Rotary Club of Towne Lake President: Participating in this project was the ultimate service to others in our community. Produce is expensive and often something that our struggling neighbors will forgo.

Josh Murphy, Director of Sourcing at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: In this program USDA is paying contractors to put together boxes of fresh healthy fruits and vegetables or of mixed dairy products or of mixed meat products and distribute them directly to food banks and distribution sites…Understanding that every time you bring in a trailer load of rice, 40 thousand families are affected. Think about 40 thousand dinner tables and people sitting down and making a meal out of that rice you brought in or those fresh fruits and vegetables you brought in

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank workers: Healthy food can make a big difference in a person's immune system, especially during this pandemic.

Congressman Chris Jacobs: A testament to USDA program’s success and the ability for local businesses to adapt. They took advantage of the Farmers to Families Food Box USDA program developed to aid growers and processors affected by COVID-19. This allowed them to keep their staff employed and supply families in need with nutritious food all around the country. These programs are vital to the restoration of our agriculture industry and seeing the benefits first-hand will make me that much stronger of an advocate for their continuation as we defeat COVID-19.

Brett Baker, United Apple Sales Executive Vice President: The program took advance of some of the apples that due to COVID, we didn’t have a home for… They are going to different food pantries, different food banks, outreach-type organizations. The apples are sold into that food box program rather than being destroyed or only sold for apple cider.

American Agri-Women: AAW is grateful to its members and the USDA for continuing to provide a variety of safe and nutritious foods while additionally supporting our farms and ranches amid the complex situation we are all in.

Journey Community Church: Thanks to the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program, the church finished off the night by giving away a grand total of 6,258 of meat and dairy products to over 100 franklin families.

Bethany Conkel, Journey Community Church volunteer: We love seeing people receive food, it’s just something everyone needs and it’s always a huge blessing to receive something unexpected…We’ve seen so many families especially in this pandemic need a little extra and is such a huge blessing.

U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn.: The people here at the food bank and food shelves are passionate folks looking out for members of our community most in need…Our producers are who makes this food possible in order to be distributed to those in need.

Virginia Merritt, Channel One Executive Director: When the USDA makes purchases from farmers, not only is it putting food on the table for our clients that need it, but it's also supporting those farm economies…We know that hunger in rural communities is real, and their economies depend on agriculture.

Chris Gilbert, head of Tioga Friends of the Food Pantry: The recent U.S. Department of Agriculture “Farmers to Families Food Box Program” makes it possible for local farmers to provide the Friends of the Food Pantry with quality local produce.

Pike County Ecumenical Food Pantry: We benefited from the special Farmers to Families Food Box Program that Dave Cool coordinated along with the traditional USDA and Pennsylvania sponsored programs. All this is possible because of the dedication and effort of the folks at Second Harvest.

Andy Gipson, Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner: I’m glad the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce can assist with the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. It benefits not only our farmers and distributors but also our citizens who may be struggling as a result of COVID-19’s impact on society. Our department has distributed over 2,800 produce boxes, 3,600 dozen eggs, and 3,600 gallons of milk to the public in the past two months.

Amy Harvey, Open Door Mission’s Chief Community Relations Officer: With this program they’ve been able to help more people than their outreach centers have allowed during COVID.

William Knudsen, Open Door Mission: They’re very thankful and they’re blessed to be able to come here and receive this and it’s a blessing to serve them and so we’re getting blessed on both sides.

Laura Santa Maria from Fellowship Church: We are grateful to be part of this opportunity to distribute fresh produce to people in need. It’s a tangible way to show love to our neighbors.

Bob Ona, lead pastor of Northview Church in the Fargo/Moorhead area: We have distributed 75,000 pounds of food to those in need in our community, all because of the food provided by the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program… We deeply appreciate how the food box program gave us a mechanism to build goodwill and we hope to repeat the experience.

Calbrina Ward Woods, organizer of Empowered by Faith: It shows the community is pulling together, and it’s pulling together as one…I’m ecstatic. It’s a new feeling every time we do it. We’ve developed relationships with people. The prayer line is always packed, it’s just an amazing feeling.

Honda Smith, alder of Ward 30: It’s been a complete blessing to the residents here to receive fresh produce.

Shelly Holiness: These are all low-income residents who otherwise would have no access to healthy food, and even if they did, they’re priced out.

Harry Bell, of Color A Positive Thought: The foods are donated by Farmers to Families… The food distribution is important in these pandemic times which have made people sick, cost people their jobs and left them hungry.

Jim Craig, associate pastor at the Living Waters Assembly of God in Lamont: When we show up at a family’s doorstep with a box of produce, the entire family usually greets us at the door with huge smiles… Because of the generosity of this program, they get more than they ever expected. They get love and concern from a church family they never knew they had. It is never just a box of produce. It is a whole lot more.

@TomLackey36: Hardworking volunteers + 1,848 boxes of farm fresh produce = food for needy #AntelopeValley families. Thank you @USDA Farmers to Families Program, AG Food Link Hub & volunteers from Growing Valley Baptist Church for making our Drive-through produce pickup very successful!

@SESPride: When your school district and community cares about the whole child it shows in the smiles of our families and today was full of lots of happy faces! Thank you to everyone who helped make the @SESPride Farmers to Families food box event a success!

@OurHouseShelter: For the past 13 weeks, 28 volunteers have worked 176 hours to serve over 12,000 families with the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program! We are so thankful to still be able to serve our community clients during the COVID-19 pandemic with the help of such awesome volunteers!

@Communityfoodpantry: The USDA Farmers to Families program provides fresh produce directly to the food insecure. Covid kindness at it’s finest.

@cityservehq: Thousands of churches nationwide are now compassion brokers to their hurting communities with USDA Farmers to Families food boxes.

@Ksfarmfood: The USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program has helped a tremendous amount of families with keeping their fridge full during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⁠

BACKGROUND:

In this third round of purchases, USDA is purchasing combination boxes to ensure all recipient organizations have access to fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk and meat products. USDA has issued contracts to 50 entities for the third round of the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program in order to continue supplying nutritious foods to Americans in need and supporting farmers, ranchers and distributors in the food supply chain.

These contract awards are a result of the third round of Farmers to Families Food Box program announced on July 24, 2020, and President Trump’s announcement on August 24 that up to an additional $1 billion was being made available for deliveries through October 31, 2020. A full list of approved suppliers will be posted on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program webpage.

Coverage in this round of the program allocates food boxes to states based on the internal need of the state with the goal of providing coverage to entities in every county in the country. Eligibility for the third round was open to entities who could meet the government’s requirements and specifications and whose proposals illustrated coverage of opportunity zones and addressed costs incurred delivering product into the hands of recipients, among other factors. Fewer boxes will be delivered under this round due to the shift in combination boxes; however, the number of pounds of food being delivered is on par with previous rounds.

USDA initially used basic ordering agreements (BOA) for this round to have greater flexibility to ensure contracted entities provide adequate coverage throughout the states and territories. A BOA is not a contract but is a written understanding, negotiated between USDA and a company establishing terms for future contracts during a specific period, and described what will be provided and how future orders will be priced, issued and delivered under the contract. The BOA did not authorize companies to ship products and did not guarantee future work.

In the second round of purchasing and distribution, which began July 1 and concluded September 18, USDA purchased more than $1.7 billion of food through extended contracts of select vendors from the first round of the program as well as new contracts focused on Opportunity Zones in order to direct food to reach underserved areas, places where either no boxes have yet been delivered, or where boxes are being delivered but where there is additional need.

The first round of purchases totaling $945 million occurred from May 15 through June 30, 2020.

Updates to the number of food boxes verified as delivered will continue to be displayed on the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website, with breakdowns by performance period on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program page.

USDA is also continuing its plans to purchase $1.4 billion in agricultural products produced by farmers, ranchers and producers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations through the Food Purchase and Distribution Program. The trade mitigation program has surpassed $1.1 billion in purchases this fiscal year, and more than $2 billion on purchases overall during FY19 and FY20, which were provided to states for distribution to the network of food banks and food pantries that participate in the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2020 - 2:00pm

Contact Info:

USDA Press

press@oc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2020 – Following President Donald Trump’s approval to include up to an additional $1 billion in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved up to $1 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities in need through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Earlier this week, USDA reached a milestone of having distributed more than 90 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These contract awards will go to vendors who submitted the strongest proposals in support of American agriculture and the American people. The high level of interest and quality of proposals are a testament that the program is accomplishing what we intended – supporting U.S. farmers and distributors and getting food to those who need it most. It’s a real trifecta, which is why we call it a win-win-win,” said Secretary Perdue. “Thanks to President Trump and his commitment to the program with the announcement of an additional $1 billion in funding, more farmers will be supported, and more families will receive the nutritious food they need during these difficult times.”

“With over 90 million Farmers to Families food boxes delivered, we continue to leverage and support our great American farmers and food distributors to feed those most vulnerable. Thanks to the President’s commitment of $1 billion in additional funding, I’m proud to see that we are well on our way to the third round of USDA Farmers to Families food box program purchases which focus on boxes containing fresh and nutritious fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy,” said Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump.

These contract awards are a result of the third round of Farmers to Families Food Box program announced on July 24, 2020, and President Trump’s announcement on August 24 that up to an additional $1 billion was being made available for deliveries through October 31, 2020. A full list of approved suppliers will be posted on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program webpage after 5 p.m. ET, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020.

Background:

In this third round of purchases, USDA announced plans to purchase combination boxes to ensure all recipient organizations have access to fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk and meat products. These boxes will be distributed to every county in America.

USDA solicited new proposals for the third round. Proposals were required to illustrate how coverage would be provided to areas identified as opportunity zones, detail subcontracting agreements, and address the “last mile” delivery of product into the hands of the food insecure population.

Entities who met the government’s requirements and specifications were issued agreements and submitted pricing through a competitive acquisition process. Agreements were awarded based on the pricing submitted for the delivery locations proposed, box content, last mile delivery plans, means testing compliance, and support of small and local/regional food systems.

In the ongoing second round of purchasing and distribution, which began July 1 and will conclude Sep. 18, 2020, USDA has purchased more than $1.113 billion of food through extended contracts of select vendors from the first round of the program as well as new contracts focused on Opportunity Zones in order to direct food to reach underserved areas, places where either no boxes have yet been delivered, or where boxes are being delivered but where there is additional need.

The first round of purchases occurred from May 15 through June 30, 2020 and saw more than 35.5 million boxes delivered in the first 45 days.

Updates to the number of food boxes verified as delivered will continue to be displayed on the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website, with breakdowns by performance period on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program page.

Date: Friday, August 28, 2020 - 10:30am

Contact Info:

USDA Press

press@oc.usda.gov

(Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program has distributed more than 75 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, President Trump announced an additional up to $1 billion will be added to the Farmers to Families Food Box Program while the economy continues to reopen.

“The delivery of 75 Million food boxes has helped an incredible number of Americans in need,” said Secretary Perdue. “I couldn’t be prouder of the great job done by the food box program staff and the many farmers, distributors and non-profits that helped to get this program off the ground for the American people. Each of these milestones is marked by pride and has required hours of hard work and dedication from USDA employees, farmers, ranchers, distributors and the brave volunteers of countless non-profits going the last mile to reach Americans in need. We are well into the second round of deliveries and we’re working harder than ever to continue to build on the success of the program.”

“In May, under direction from the President, we launched the $3 billion Farmers to Families Food Box program to help feed American families and support our farmers. Just over three months later, the United States has responded in record amounts with over 75 million boxes having been delivered nationwide. This program will continue to fulfill its mission to support the most vulnerable, empower our workforce and uplift great American farmers,” said Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump.

You may view the Farmers to Families Food Box Program video here.

Background:

Following the President’s announcement of additional funding up to $1 billion, USDA also announced today it intends to extend current contractors that desire to continue to deliver food boxes through September 18. These extensions will ensure adequate capacity for food box distribution as USDA plans to incorporate the additional funding. USDA continues to review proposals received for the upcoming third round, and will issue additional agreements in the near future, with subsequent contracts to deliver food boxes the remainder of September and through October 31.

In the ongoing second round of purchasing and distribution, which began July 1 and will conclude Aug. 31, 2020, USDA has purchased more than $1.113 billion of food through extended contracts of select vendors from the first round of the program as well as new contracts focused on Opportunity Zones in order to direct food to reach underserved areas, places where either no boxes have yet been delivered, or where boxes are being delivered but where there is additional need.

In the upcoming third round, which begins September 1, USDA plans to purchase combination boxes to ensure all recipient organizations have access to fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk and meat products. Additional box types will be considered on an as needed basis. Entities that proposed under the previous solicitation, including current vendors, will have to reapply. Proposals will be expected to illustrate how coverage will be provided to areas identified as Opportunity Zones, detail subcontracting agreements, and address the “last mile” delivery of product into the hands of the food insecure population.

The first round of purchases occurred from May 15 through June 30, 2020 and saw more than 35.5 million boxes delivered in the first 45 days.

Updates to the number of food boxes verified as delivered will continue to be displayed on the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website, with breakdowns by performance period on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program page.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Joe Cayson, general manager of Cockrell Banana: “The USDA has really helped us. We work a lot of restaurants and the schools. When they shut down, we lost thousands of dollars every week. This program saved our business.”

BaptistsonMission: “These are boxes of love and hope.”

Purcell resident Sandra Roberts: “It means everything to have this available to the community.”

Nathaniel Vincent, Vincent Farms: “It’s just an incredible opportunity for us, really...Having the opportunity to pack these boxes and having another home for our produce is huge.”

Zoe Absey, Great Plains Food Bank: “This is just the USDA saying ‘Here is some food, give it to your community.’ It’s more so just us trying to get the food out for the community and so farmers could get rid of their product and not waste it. I can’t imagine having to throw out all of your hard work.”

Amanda Ruiz: “It’s a blessing to all of us.”

Great Plains Food Bank: “Served over 1 million pounds of food to Burleigh and Morton Counties from March through July. That’s a 25% increase over last year. A partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made it possible to distribute food on a larger scale through the Farmers to Families program.”

Michigan Farm Bureau President Bednarski: “Thank you Secretary Perdue for helping farmers get products to consumers hands with Farmers To Families Food Box Program. Helped those in need get hands on food boxes. 66 million boxes to those in need. No one likes to see food go to waste.”

Kelisha Johnson, volunteer at New Monrovia Baptist Church: “I think it’s awesome. In an environment and time like this, it’s a blessing to be part of something that the community needs. I’m excited about it.”

The Berry Man: “The program has succeeded in doing exactly what it was intended to do — supply fresh produce to those in need while also helping distributors and farmers, who have been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels, and businesses that they typically supply. The Berry Man’s business was down 80 percent before these contracts, with employees’ hours cut to one or two days per week. With the initial contract, the company was able to offer all employees their regular hours back.”

Cecarelli's Harrison Hill Farm owner William Dellacamera: “There's not much profit margin in farming to start with. But to have the security of knowing that you're going to be able to be profitable because of this box program is just substantial... Just to get fresh vegetables like they're getting. Some of these people have never had it before and those letters reflect it…You're showing the next generation, 'hey seek this out, this is good stuff. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat this instead of that.”

Crystal Childress, Audubon Area Community Services: “These food boxes have been an added blessing for some. For the elderly who can’t grow a garden anymore, to get some of those fresh fruits and vegetables has been a benefit. The availability to younger people who may not use fresh fruits and vegetables, it might make them think about looking up recipes, or for the working families who are struggling every day … this helps take some of the burden off of them…When I first heard about [the program], I thought what a wonderful blessing this would be for our community as a whole…This is for everybody. There are no income limits or age limits. It’s fresh, free fruits and vegetables…I encourage anyone and everyone to come out and participate.”

Justin Jones, Lone Tree Foods: “To be able to deliver wonderful products that I know to be the best you can get grown here in Nebraska to folks who don't normally get to try them is really satisfying.”

Kathy Sullivan Romero, family engagement specialist for Head Start: “When I got to tell my families that we have a box of food for them to pickup I hear relief, I hear 'oh thank goodness,' or 'that's wonderful,' or 'this is really going to help my food budget which is already stretched thin.’”

Senator Richard Blumenthal: “At Saturday’s Farmers to Families Food Box Food Distribution event at Wade’s Dairy, it was truly wonderful to see everyone working together to help meet CT’s hunger needs.”

Congressman Dusty Johnson: “It was amazing to see how many people are being helped, but even more so, I was impressed by the teamwork aspect of the program. The Farmers to Families Food Box is a solid example of good government.”

Congressman Adrian Smith: “It’s great to see the efficiency of the products getting out. I mean, distribution: We’re a big country. We’re a big state and it takes a lot to distribute these products. That’s why it’s great to see this first hand.”

Congressman Andy Harris: “This is a win-win-win. Everybody wins by this program. What we’re seeing nationally, of course, as some places begin to reclose their restaurants, is the supply chain still needs to be supported. Obviously, here on the Eastern Shore, agriculture’s incredibly important for the communities. The communities win, our famers win, and obviously the recipients of the food win as well. So this is just a great program.”

Congressman Fred Upton: “Together, USDA and our growers in the community are certainly helping those in need with their actions.”

Texas Rep. Mike Conaway: “It was humbling to see the direct impact of this program through the faces of the families coming through the food line, many of whom have never had to rely on government assistance to feed their families before.”

North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler: “When you can create a market for farm products and feed people at the same time, it doesn’t get any better than that. As we work our way through the pandemic, this is a key program to get agriculture from point A to point B.”

Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Mayor of Bristol, CT: “We are thrilled as a city to have yet another opportunity to provide this in our community for those residents most in need.”

Lone Tree Foods, Chad Juranek: “Being able to help out with something like this on both ends, I can’t tell you how gratifying it is…We wanted to make sure we were able to keep moving, our farmers were able to keep product moving. And there’s a lot of people out there that need food.”

Catholic Charities volunteer Chuck White: “In 3 or 4 hours we are emptying a whole truck load of goods into people's cars and they are on their way to get to families that need them.”

Jason Webber, Old Orchard Beach Recreation Director: “The need is there and we're there to help as much as we can.”

Eli Brooks the pastor of Daystar Church in Madison: “I know just for me it can just be something that gives them a little leg up. It can just be something you don’t have to purchase this week and maybe it gives them a couple weeks of break from some of those more expensive things you have to buy at the store and that can just help people feel like man I can get through this time.”

Arlee community member: “You don’t know what this means to people living on fixed incomes, especially elders.”

Carpinteria Children’s Project Executive Director Maria Chesley: “The produce [is] absolutely beautiful.”

Old Mission Community Development and Marketing Manager Suzy Plott: “[It’s] wonderful and impressive.”

Pastor Robinson: “There's a need in this area, there's a need all over…People are hungry. They need food, and it's just a way for us to help the community and help those that are trying to survive through this, to give them a little help.”

Greta Randolph, Directional Leader of Outreach at Saint Paul's Baptist Church: “We are trying to meet needs where we can. When the food program increased and the giving became bigger we are trying to get as much as we can so we can bless as many people as possible.”

The Neighbors Place Executive Director Donna Ambrose: “It’s a great opportunity for people to quickly and easily get nutritious food from area farmers.”

Lauren Broman, Pelican Harbor Food Bank: “Just a large, lovely assortment of stuff — good, basic food.”

Saint Williams Catholic Church: “The community really benefits from this government program it also keeps the farmers with pay, and also GO Fresh who does the delivery… It's supposed to be a win, win, win situation for all involved.”

Patti Miller, food service director at Sturgis Public Schools: “Wonderful program…We have had so many grateful families…Many have said it has saved a lot on grocery bills.”

Jenny Lowrey, From the Ground Up Farms: “Oh my God. Seventeen-hundred families are going to get free food today…Ah, I love this!”

Nancee Ellsworth, the coordinator of the food pantry for First Christian Church of Paradise:“This [resource] is awesome. Our families don’t have access to a lot of fresh food. … It’s such a treat for our families.”

Flo Stevenson, president of the Fairview Corporation: “We had about 20 volunteers to meet the people and bring them the boxes, and everyone was so friendly with each other. We worked hard, but it was an amazing experience.”

MANNA FoodBank Director of Marketing Kara Irani: “When the pandemic hit, all those donations fizzled out. It’s [the program] connected exactly when we needed to connect, for people facing hunger right now.”

Allison Jennings, executive director of The Community Kitchen in Canton: “They’re awesome boxes, they send them whenever they’re available.”

Elevate Church Senior Pastor Shane Wenger: “A lady told us that the box of produce she receives feeds her for the week. It’s inspiring to others to want to be generous. I’d love to be known, not for our Sundays, but for what we do every day. Our best is you find that need and meet that need.”

Joy Standridge, Chickasaw Nation: “This project is designed to help provide relief to the food supply chain devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative provides relief to farmers and distributors who lost demand for their food products. It provides relief to food banks and other nonprofits by making sure the products are made available already packed in boxes, which reduces the number of volunteers needed to work each event.”

Noah Drew, The University of North Texas Health Science Center: “We hope this program will alleviate some of the worries food-insecure families are experiencing during this pandemic and during hard economic times.”

Jonathan Wendorf, 11 y/o volunteer at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church: “This is helping out a lot of people.”

Jen England, 412 Food Rescue: “Our strategy at 412 Food Rescue has always been to get food to where people already are. During COVID-19, we’re connecting the USDA’s Farmers to Families food boxes with our region’s highest-need communities.”

The Neighbors Place Executive Director Donna Ambrose: “It's a great opportunity for people to quickly and easily get nutritious food from area farmers.”

Diamond King, owner of Samaritan's Market: “People really appreciate what the federal government, Prairie Farms and what we have been doing. This food has helped residents who have been out of work due to COVID-19 and those who are returning to the workforce. It is a blessing to help these families.”

South Jersey Dream Center: “The Dream Center is so blessed to be a part of the USDA "Farmers to Families Food Box Program" under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Local distributor, J. Ambrogi Foods provides over 100 produce boxes to our facility each week, filled with fresh tomatoes, celery, apples, oranges, lettuce, potatoes, carrots and onions. Our agencies love them, including our friends at the First Baptist Church of Jericho.”

MS Egg Marketing Board: “What an @IncredibleEggs kinda day! Thanks to @CommAndyGipson and partners @TheDairyAlliance @MerchantsFS Borden Dairy Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. and the USDA “Farmers to Families” food box program we served nearly 1,400 families today.”

Commissioner Andy Gipson: “Thanks to everyone in our @MSDeptofAg family who made today’s @USDA Farmers to Families food distribution a huge success. We will do it again!”

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives: “The @USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program supply 20lb boxes of produce to families. This is allowing our Georgia farmers to put healthy food in the hands of families and sustain their farm operation. #SaturdayMotivation”

Feeding Tampa Bay: “Demand for food banks rise & nationwide programs emerge to meet the increased need. Programs like Farmers to Families bring family-sized food boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, & meat to food banks across the county.”

Food Gatherers: “Through the @USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box Program, Food Gatherers receives produce boxes from Michigan food suppliers. Each box is filled with fresh fruits & veggies and is distributed to our hunger-relief network!”

JamborgiFoods: “Our USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes have been a great success! We are so happy to support this wonderful program and provide healthy food to so many in our community.”

Waysidefoodprograms: “Every week we are getting 50 boxes of beautiful produce straight from our partners at @jordans_farm as part of the @usdagov Farmers to Families program. We are so lucky to have a such fresh and delicious bounty thanks to Maine farmers!”

AthenaFarms: “@athenafarms would like to thank @usda_ams agriculture secretary Sonny Purdue @usdagov for making such a successful program to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need.”

Libertyfruitco: “Thank you @usdagov #farmerstofamiliesfoodbox program and our nonprofit partners for helping to connect communities and fight food insecurity one produce box at a time.”

WorldwideProduce: “Thank you to the #USDA for sharing our story - we are proud to be a part of the #FarmersToFamilies food box program helping our neighbors in need. We couldn’t do it without our dedicated Farmers and Dairymen, our passionate Charitable Partners and our hardworking team. Together we can make a great impact!”

Hamproduceseafood: “This photo was shared with us by @liliuokalanitrust from a Kaupo distribution. Kaupo is extremely peaceful and remote. We are so thankful that through the USDA Family Food Box Program we are able to reach people in these areas.”

Pwpmproducemkt: “The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market was delighted to show Greg Ibach, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and his team the work that the Philly Market is doing for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Farmers to Families Food Box Program. We are thrilled to help growers, distributors, and families in this “triple win” initiative!”

ISDD: Innovation Services for Disadvantage and Disability of Decatur, GA: “This program has worked beautifully for us.”

Commonmarketse: “The Common Market Farmers to Families program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has connected us to so many incredible regional organizations all rooted in community, and dedicated to helping nourish their neighbors. It’s also provided us the means to support our farmer network - diversifying and expanding it in the process. The impact illustrated in numbers reflects 6 weeks of collective effort - and we’re honored to kick off another cycle. Local, healthy food access is crucial - thank you to all for helping us help others! 65,651+ produce boxes delivered; 650,000 lbs. of produce distributed; 45+ different community partnerships formed; 17 family farms supported, 3 farm relationships were newly formed”

AlohaHarvest: “Food distributions like this make sure folks impacted by job loss have healthy meals and can worry about one less bill this month.”

food4livesatl: “Love, sweat and some elbow grease! Happy to provide fresh produce for those in need!”

Ruthsgleanings: “We are so full of gratitude for the continued bounty of produce we are able to distribute throughout our community.”

Funerallison: “@vbschools has partnered with @usdagov to give boxes of produce to families with school kids during these crazy Covid times. So so so thankful!”

Tellcitymayorcail: “A great program and a special THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who work hard to make this a success!”

OldmissionSB: “Over the last 9 weeks, in partnership with The Berry Man, Inc and The U.S.D.A Farmers to Families Food Box Program we handed out over 3,210 boxes of fresh produce to those in need. We are so grateful to have been a part of such a wonderful program!”

Communityfoodpantry: “Here at Community Food Pantry, our mission is to provide those facing food insecurity with nutritious groceries. This is made possible by wonderful organizations such as #FarmerstoFamilies that provided families in the Tampa Bay area with beautiful produce!”

Mauihui: “Mahalo to everyone who made today's produce box distribution successful. A special thank you to DHX Maui, Matson, @liliuokalanitrust, @hamproduceseafood, @usdagov and all of the farmers who grew the produce that have fed many of our families over this challenging time. We appreciate you much.”

Date: August 18, 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host an educational event on herd management techniques that help increase the quality, yield, and market value of cattle as part of its ongoing outreach conducted by the USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers (CCTCs). While anyone can attend the event, it is targeted to producers, feeders, and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of factors that contribute to the market value of cattle, and how these factors can inform marketing and production decisions at the farm, feedlot, and other points in the supply chain.

The event will be hosted by West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) on September 21 - 22, 2022, and will focus on proper cow herd management and best practices to optimize market value. The event will include several live cattle evaluations, offering hands-on experience for participants. Guest speakers include representatives from USDA Market News, WTAMU, the Livestock Marketing Association, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, and several cattle buyers.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) directed USDA to establish the CCTCs to conduct activities that limit subjectivity in the application of beef grading standards, provide producers with a greater understanding of the value of their cattle, and provide investors more confidence in the cattle delivery system.

Pre-registration is required for the event, which is free and open to the public. Space is limited to 70 people. Information about this event, including how to pre-register, is on the AMS website.

Date: September 21, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a series of educational webinars for the pork industry about USDA’s Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) Program. In this series – to be held on October 12, October 19 and October 26, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Time each day – USDA Market News staff and a panel of industry representatives will provide an overview of LMR live hog and wholesale pork reporting, and how this information can inform real-world marketing decisions at the farm and other points in the supply chain. While anyone can attend the free webinars, they are targeted to pork producers, feeders and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of LMR.

The first webinar will provide an overview of LMR and includes speakers from USDA Market News, the National Pork Producers Council, the USDA Packers and Stockyards Division and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The second webinar will provide an overview of LMR live hog reporting and includes speakers from USDA Market News, CME Group, a hog producer and an economist from Iowa State University. The last webinar will provide an overview of LMR wholesale pork reporting and includes speakers from USDA Market News, CME Group, an economist from Partners for Production Agriculture and a representative from Sterling Marketing, Inc.

Information about how to pre-register, and the dates, times, speakers and topics of each webinar are on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.

USDA is focused on building new, more, fairer, and more resilient markets for our farmers, ranchers and producers. In the last five years, stresses and disruptions caused by concentration in livestock markets have impacted not only producers, but consumers as well. These educational webinars will help pork producers better understand LMR data so they can make marketing and production decisions based on the best-available market information.

Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - 10:30am

Contact Info

Public Affairs

PA@usda.gov

(202) 720-8998

Release No.

093-22

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that additional commodities and features are now available on the free USDA Market News App, which provides producers and others along the supply chain with instant access to market information about conventional and organic products. The app was designed to make it easy for all producers to navigate and access the information on a mobile phone.

Version 2.0 includes access to three additional commodity areas – Cotton and Tobacco, Dairy and Specialty Crops, as well as the ability to filter searches to see reports by Commodity Area and Market Type, the ability to add reports to Favorites and Subscriptions by Commodity Area and Market Type, an improved way to manage subscriptions and a calendar feature that provides access to previously released reports.

USDA launched the first version of its free Market News app in February 2022, with access to about 800 livestock, poultry, and grain market reports. Today’s updated version of the app includes market reports for conventional and organic dairy, cotton, and specialty crop commodities.  It also offers greater access to market information by increasing the total number of Market News reports available on the app to nearly 1,500.

“The Market News app helps create a more level playing field for small and medium producers by delivering critical market information to them where they are, when they need it,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “With the latest update to the Market News App, now, dairy, cotton, and specialty crop producers can access critical market insights about conventional and organic products through their phone, supporting USDA’s efforts to build more transparent markets.”

Users can search for markets based on their location, by state, or by commodity. They also can add market reports to their favorites for easier access, share reports via text or email, subscribe to reports, and receive real-time notifications when a new report is published. For additional data analysis, the app lets you share the source data behind the reports.

The free USDA Market News app is available in both iOS and Android versions and may be downloaded through the Apple and Google Play stores. Search for “USDA Market News Mobile Application” to download the app and begin exploring its potential.

USDA Market News continues to expand its tools and resources to ensure producers benefit from the vast amount of market information available and understand how this information can provide actionable insight to inform marketing decisions at the farm and other points in the supply chain. This mobile app allows producers to access market data and reports, regardless of where they are, more effectively, efficiently, and on-demand.