USDA to Buy Almost 3 Million Pounds of Sliced Apples

USDA is planning to purchase 2.9 million pounds of fresh-cut apple slices in 2-ounce bags for donation to child nutrition and other domestic nutrition assistance programs, according to the agency. The purchase is a pilot program and will be made with currently available Farm Bill funds. Section 4404 of the 2008 Farm Bill provided an additional $193 million in fiscal year 2009 for the purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts for use in domestic nutrition assistance programs. This pilot program will help test the feasibility and cost effectiveness of using single-serving convenience packs in domestic nutrition assistance programs.

The purchase of the fresh-cut apple slices – a new commodity for USDA’s Agricultural Market Service (AMS) – marks the beginning of a new apple pilot program. In cooperation with industry, a new commodity specification was developed specifically for the fresh-cut apple slices.

AMS purchases a variety of high-quality food products each year for distribution by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service for the national school lunch program, the school breakfast program, the summer food service program, the food distribution program on Indian reservations, the nutrition program for the elderly, the commodity supplemental food program and the emergency food assistance program. USDA also makes emergency purchases of commodities for distribution to victims of natural disasters.

AMS will immediately begin accepting bids for fresh-cut apple contracts.