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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week announced plans to purchase up to $50 million of pork products which will be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs.

"We provide food assistance to one in every five Americans," said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. "We are working to increase benefits due to rising food costs and to ensure we have full funding for our food assistance programs."

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases a variety of high-quality food products each year for distribution by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 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.

Based upon USDA's intent to buy these pork products, FNS will survey potential recipients to determine how much product will be accepted for shipping. AMS will seek the lowest overall cost by publicly inviting bids to supply the desired quantity and by awarding contracts to responsible bidders.

“The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is pleased with the Agriculture Department’s announcement,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said in a statement following the decision. AFBF, along with the National Pork Producers Council, requested the action last month in response to continued low prices for pork and live hogs, which have resulted in financial distress to many producers.

“USDA’s help could not come at a more critical time,” he said. “This procurement program offers two important benefits: it helps farmers facing record-low pork prices, while at the same time providing healthy, nutritious protein to their fellow citizens who are in need. It's a win-win for producers and the public.”

The commodities must meet specified grade requirements and be USDA-inspected or graded to ensure quality. AMS purchases only products of 100 percent domestic origin.