USDA is investing $1.7 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to buy locally produced food for emergency food assistance and school meals.
The money is intended to bolster nutrition assistance programs and help domestic producers access local markets and financial benefits, according to a USDA release.
Specifically, USDA will allocate $1.2 billion for local food purchases. This includes $500 million for states, territories and tribes to buy local foods for emergency food providers and another $500 million for school meal programs to make buy food locally. For the first time, the agency is also designating $200 million specifically for child care facilities.
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The agency is also providing $500 million to purchase domestic commodities for emergency providers like food banks and pantries.
The School Nutrition Association lauded the allocation for school meals, citing struggles managing high costs since pandemic funding ended.
“These funds will connect more students with nutritious, locally grown foods while helping offset costs for school meal programs squeezed by tight budgets,” SNA President Shannon Gleave said in a release.
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