Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program Empowers Fresh Produce
Apr 22, 2020, Updated May 21, 2021
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This week, the USDA-AMS approved funding for the Coronovirus Farm Assistance Program for $100 MILLION PER MONTH.
Farm Assistance
What does that mean for fresh produce? It means fruit and vegetables will be distributed into pre-portioned boxes. And then they will be deployed to community feeding and hunger relief programs through the United States.
Yes, this provides for those programs, but it also helps an agricultural wholesale supply chain. And as we know, that supply chain was hit hard by the shutdown of foodservice amidst Covid-19.
“We’re really grateful that the USDA took this step,” said Mollie Van Lieu, Senior Director of Nutrition Policy for the United Fresh Produce Association. “We really hope that, through this, we can prove that fresh fruits and vegetables can be part of these federal feeding programs and continue it beyond the crisis that we’re in.”
More About the “Buy Fresh” Program
In a message sent out from United Fresh today, they explain more about the “Buy Fresh” program as part of the Farm Assistance program. The “Buy Fresh” program will purchase $100 million per month, for six months, in fresh produce from regional and local distributors whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities.
This unprecedented program that will utilize the fresh produce supply chain, from growers to distributors, to deliver consumer-ready fresh produce boxes to organizations serving the rising number of families in need.
You can learn more the USDA website.
About United Fresh
As United Fresh continues to follow the state of coronavirus, and specifically COVID-19, they have created industry and consumer resource pages to help address commonly asked questions.
