USDA to Purchase $67 Million in Domestic Produce and Seafood for National Food Aid Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to purchase up to $67 million in fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables from American producers for distribution to food banks and nutrition assistance programs nationwide. This latest initiative, authorized under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to strengthen the nation’s food safety net and support domestic agriculture. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, USDA has allocated more than $600 million for such purchases.

The program will benefit communities in need by supplying nutrient-rich American-grown commodities, while also offering a critical market for domestic agricultural producers. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which administers these purchases, regularly evaluates market conditions, vendor participation, and food bank requirements to determine procurement levels and product selections. These efforts are designed to meet the growing demands of emergency food assistance networks, including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

AMS intends to procure five key products in this round: $20 million in Atlantic groundfish, $14 million each in canned pears and Great Northern beans, $16 million in Pacific pink shrimp, and $3 million in dried sweet cherries. A pre-solicitation notice will soon be published to inform vendors how to participate, with purchase decisions based on both market dynamics and food bank needs. Details are available through the USDA’s AMS website.

The USDA emphasizes that these acquisitions not only aid low-income families but also promote the distribution of high-quality, domestically sourced foods. By leveraging Section 32 funds, the department ensures that surplus commodities are redirected efficiently to address food insecurity across the country. Future purchases will be considered based on continued input from industry stakeholders and ongoing assessments of community needs.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

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