The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to purchase more than a quarter-billion dollars in dairy and other agricultural products for food assistance programs nationwide.
The USDA announced Thursday it will buy up to $263 million in commodities directly. The products will be distributed through food banks and federal nutrition assistance programs.
The purchases are being made under long-standing authority the department has that allows it to buy surplus commodities to stabilize farm markets and support food assistance efforts. USDA officials say the funding will cover items such as milk, cheese, fruits, beans, and nuts.
The USDA has not yet released a timeline for when contracts will be awarded or when distribution will begin. Officials say they are planning to purchase $75 million of butter, nearly $45 million of cheese, and over $20 million of milk in addition to other products.
The full list of purchases is:
- Butter: $75 million
- Cheddar Cheese and Cheese Products: $32.5 million
- Swiss Cheese: $10 million
- Fresh Fluid Milk: $20.5 million
- Ultra-High Temperature Milk: $10 million
- Chickpeas: $12 million
- Dried Beans (Black and Pinto): $25 million
- Fresh Pears: $15 million
- Lentils: $14 million
- Pecans: $10 million
- Split Peas: $24 million
- Walnuts: $15 million
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