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USDA awards first coronavirus food box contracts
The USDA approved 1.2 billion dollars’ worth of contracts Friday to assemble and distribute food boxes to families in need. The funding came from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says the Farmers to Families Food Box Program is a new and innovative approach to provide critical support to American farmers and families.
Jeff Lyon with FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative tells Brownfield the food box program is important for both families in need and farmers. “You don’t want them to offset the retail purchases, but you know, if it’s people that are unemployed, they don’t have the money, they’re not going to be buying it. We get it in their hands. We move that product. It’s a very good situation for everyone involved and gets the markets going.”
Perdue says the program will begin distributing surplus food within days.
The food box program will buy $461 million in fresh fruits and vegetables, $317 million in a variety of dairy products, $258 million in meat products and $175 million in a combination box of fresh produce, dairy or meat products, all for distribution through non-profit food banks and community groups.
Here are some of the companies and organizations supplying food and services to the food box program. Dollar figures are the total of contracts awarded to that state.
IOWA: ($5,585,950)
ILLINOIS: ($81,697,734)
KANSAS ($1,700,400)
MICHIGAN: ($41,929,062)
MINNESOTA: ($480,816)
Bongards’ Creameries, Chanhassen MN
MISSOURI: ($11,898,983)
OHIO: ($7,882,950)
WISCONSIN: ($10,729,680)
Payments were made to participants large and small, ranging from $1,400 to the local Willimantic Food Co-op in Connecticut to 146.9 million dollars to Borden Dairy Company, which is serving several regions of the U.S. The food box program is buying $461 million in fresh fruits and vegetables, $317 million in a variety of dairy products, $258 million in meat products.
Where is the full list?
Where is the full list?