With funding made available through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, the USDA is providing nearly $1.3 billion for states to purchase domestic foods to be distributed to schools for their meal programs, bringing the total amount of additional commodity support for school meals to nearly $3.8 billion since December 2021.
The agency also is providing approximately $1 billion for states to acquire commodities from USDA vendors for emergency food providers, such as food banks and community kitchens. The total $2.3 billion investment is part of USDA’s broader efforts to make nutritious food grown by American producers more accessible for families and students.
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“American agriculture has continued to be resilient in the face of significant and unpredictable challenges,” says Secretary Vilsack. “To help ease the burden of these challenges, USDA is taking action and providing additional support for producers and food program operators. Today’s comprehensive set of investments will help producers by increasing commodity purchases for schools and emergency food providers. Addressing these challenges will better prepare USDA, American producers, and the customers we serve for the future.”
The USDA also is making available up to an additional $400 million for grants to support domestic fertilizer production capacity through the Fertilizer Product Expansion Program (FPEP). Through FPEP, the USDA provides grants to help eligible applicants increase or expand their manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives and their availability in the U.S., as part of its efforts to make the nutrients required in the production of agricultural commodities more reliable and affordable for American farmers, and to bring production and jobs back to the U.S., promote competition, and support American goods and services.
