US turkeys supported through food programmes
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces that the USDA will buy US$60 mln worth of turkeys for federal food nutrition programmes.
Additionally, the agriculture department will buy $30 mln in walnuts, $25 mln for pork and $2 mln for lamb for these nutrition programmes.
According to Vilsack, the latest purchases are “to assist those groups are who struggling through some difficult times”.
“Today’s announcement will help mitigate further downward prices, stabilize market conditions, stimulate the economy and provide high-quality, nutritious food to recipients of our nutrition programs,” he said.
The aid to turkey producers should largely affect Minnesota, which leads the nation in turkeys raised and in pounds produced. In 2006, Minnesota reported 45 mln turkeys and 1.2 bln pounds produced, with a value of production of $569 mln.
It is reported that these purchases support the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of natural disasters.
Related link:
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
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