USDA to purchase up to $80M in specialty crops

USDA will purchase up to $80 million in specialty crops and products in a move fruit and tree nut growers hope will provide a boost.

As growers await details on distribution of a potential $1 billion in federal relief to farmers, USDA announced the purchases under the department’s Section 32 authority under the Agriculture Act of 1935.

According to USDA, the planned purchases include:

• Almonds: $20 million
• Grape juice: $20 million
• Pistachios: $20 million
• Raisins: $20 million

The purchases will be made by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and distributed through Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Section 32 purchases are used to support American farmers by supplying U.S.-grown foods to nutrition assistance programs.

The commodities will be sourced from U.S. growers and processors and distributed to food banks and related nutrition assistance programs nationwide.