Including Boxes Distributed Through Local Churches, Food Banks
Washington D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program has distributed over 50 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program began in early April when the USDA announced the program. It purchases commodities such as fruit, vegetables, milk and dairy products from producers and companies who otherwise might have had to destroy the food when it could not be marketed before expiration because of Covid-19 closures and backlogs. Milk, for instance, was not being shipped to schools because they had shut their doors as had restaurants and other establishments.
From May 15 through June 30, the first period of performance, the program successfully delivered 35 million boxes, valued at $947 million in support of American farmers and families.
To build on that success, USDA some distributors to continue food deliveries for purchases up to $1.27 billion and also awarded $202 million to new distributors to continue increasing capacity in underserved areas, for the second performance period of July 1 through Aug. 31.
Additionally, last week, USDA announced it would launch a third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program purchases with distributions to occur beginning by September 1 with completion by October 31. The purchases will spend the balance of $3 billion authorized for the program. In this third round of purchases, USDA plans to purchase combination boxes to ensure all recipient organizations have access to fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk and meat products.
Locally the boxes have been distributed through churches and food banks.
“The delivery of 50 Million food boxes has helped an incredible number of Americans in need,” said Perdue. “I couldn’t be prouder of the great job done by the food box program staff and the many farmers, distributors and non-profits that helped to get this program off the ground for the American people. The Farmers to Families Food Box Program got off to a strong start, delivering over 35.5 million boxes in the first 45 days, and has now reached over 50 million boxes delivered – a testament to everyone’s hard work. I have been meeting with food banks and recipients across the country and it’s been heartening to hear all the positive feedback on how the program has saved businesses and fed Americans in need. We are well into the second round of deliveries and we’re working harder than ever to continue to build on the success of the program.”
Watonga distributions have taken place at the Oasis Church on Main Street, where volunteers say it blesses those volunteering as much as it does those who receive the food boxes. Other comments from around the state and nation include who said "This project is designed to help provide relief to the food supply chain devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative provides relief to farmers and distributors who lost demand for their food products. It provides relief to food banks and other nonprofits by making sure the products are made available already packed in boxes, which reduces the number of volunteers needed to work at each event.”
Feed Evansville posted "This program has helped many families who never needed assistance before the pandemic."
Chris Edmonds, branch manager with the Prairie Farms Dairy, wrote "We’re in a position to help those in need with food. We have supported over 50 non-profit organizations through the program so far, and more are being added every day."
Representative K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) was quoted as saying, "The Farmers to Families Food Box program is working as intended to benefit both farmers and communities impacted by the pandemic, and no matter the circumstance, anyone in a distribution area can receive assistance."