USDA to Invest $1 Billion to Purchase Healthy Food for Food Insecure Americans and Build Food Bank Capacity

Very first Expense of the New ‘Build Again Better’ Initiative Will Provide as a Bridge from Pandemic Aid to Foods Method Transformation

June 7, 2021 – WASHINGTON – The U.S. Office of Agriculture (USDA) nowadays announced an investment of up to $1 billion, which includes $500 million in American Rescue Strategy funding, in The Crisis Food stuff Support Application (TEFAP) to guidance and increase the crisis foodstuff community so states, foodstuff banks and nearby companies can reliably serve their communities. Setting up on lessons figured out throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA will enter into cooperative agreements with point out, Tribal and community entities to extra efficiently buy food from nearby producers and commit in infrastructure that permits companion companies to additional successfully attain underserved communities. USDA thinks the food method of the foreseeable future ought to be reasonable, competitive, dispersed, and resilient it have to assistance wellness and be certain producers receive a fair share of the food items greenback while advancing equity and contributing to nationwide local climate ambitions. This financial investment represents the 1st element of USDA’s new Construct Again Far better initiative to enable accomplish that eyesight and get started setting up a much better food technique nowadays.

“Hunger is on the decline many thanks to intense motion by the Biden-Harris Administration, but we must do a lot more to strengthen partnerships and infrastructure that energy emergency food stuff distribution to ensure the foods offered is wholesome and supports a improved food stuff program,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Now is the time to use classes figured out from meals support actions early in the pandemic to increase how USDA buys meals and supports on-the-ground companies with TEFAP. We will set specific emphasis on reaching rural, remote and underserved communities, local and regional food techniques, and socially disadvantaged farmers.”

In the coming months, USDA will make a series of extra investments below the Construct Back Superior initiative targeted on making a better food items technique. Establish Again Greater endeavours will strengthen accessibility to wholesome food items, tackle racial injustice and inequity as very well as a shifting climate, present ongoing support for producers and employees, and make a a lot more resilient foodstuff method. Today’s announcement of up to $1 billion will support take care of lingering difficulties right related with the COVID-19 pandemic and start addressing prolonged-expression difficulties to our nation’s meals system uncovered by the pandemic.

This exertion is funded by way of the American Rescue System Act ($500 million) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ($500 million) and features:

$500 Million to Assist Crisis Foods Assistance

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing and advertising Company (AMS) will acquire $500 million in healthy, domestically developed food for state foodstuff bank networks through TEFAP. USDA’s Foodstuff and Nutrition Support (FNS) and AMS will do the job collaboratively with the point out to distribute the foods to TEFAP vendors. USDA will obtain food from registered distributors for nationwide distribution. Little organization, gals-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned set-asides for the duration of the solicitation system will offer an enhanced opportunity for USDA-registered tiny organizations to post competitive bids. This funding will carry on to help demand from customers from states for the new TEFAP Contemporary Create offering.

Up to $400 Million to Aid Regional, Regional, and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

As element of this effort and hard work, AMS will build cooperative agreements with state and Tribal governments or other nearby entities to invest in foods for the food lender network from area and regional producers (within just the condition or inside of 400 miles) and from socially disadvantaged producers. AMS will use innovative strategies to assure these agreements aid interactions in between farmers, ranchers and producers and local and regional food stuff systems.

Up to $100 Million In Infrastructure Grants to Develop Potential for Food Banking companies and Extend Reach into Underserved Spots

FNS will administer a new grant software aimed at helping food stuff guidance organizations fulfill TEFAP requirements, reinforce infrastructure, and increase their reach into rural, distant, and reduced-money communities. This grant method incorporates lessons discovered from the Farmers to Family members Foods Box plan. It can support states, nearby organizations and previous meals box teams take part in the state’s crisis food items network and enable pantries make capability for storage and refrigeration. These grants will aid assist organizations serving underserved communities and communities of coloration.

USDA will continue on to make bulletins as a result of the Develop Back again Greater initiative all over 2021.

USDA touches the life of all Americans each individual working day in so quite a few beneficial means. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food stuff process with a bigger aim on extra resilient local and regional meals production, fairer markets for all producers, entry to protected, healthier and healthy foodstuff in all communities, aid of new marketplaces and streams of revenue for farmers and producers working with weather clever food stuff and forestry methods, historic investments in infrastructure and clear electricity capabilities in rural The us, and equity throughout the Office by eradicating systemic limitations and constructing a workforce more agent of America. To master much more, visit www.usda.gov.
Supply: USDA