full story link: http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0302.04.html Release No. 0302.04 George Chartier (202) 720 8998 Jerry Redding (202) 720 4623 VENEMAN ANNOUNCES 67.4 MILLION POUNDS OF CANNED FRUIT TO BE PURCHASED FOR USDA FOOD PROGRAMS WASHINGTON, July 22, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced USDA's plan to purchase up to 38.3 million pounds of canned clingstone peaches, 26.9 million pounds of canned mixed fruit and 2.2 million pounds of canned (Fay Elberta variety) freestone peaches. The fruit will be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. "This purchase will provide our federal food program recipients with a nutritious product," said Veneman. Since Oct. 1, 2003, USDA already has purchased 16.2 million pounds of canned clingstone peaches and 27.3 million pounds of canned mixed fruit. The purchase announced today will be USDA's first purchase of canned freestone peaches during the current fiscal year. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products each year for distribution by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service 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. More information about USDA programs is available at http://www.usda.gov. # USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to oc.news@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
