Full story link: http://www.usda.gov/2004/12/0518.xml Release No. 0518.04 Billy Cox (202) 720-8998 George Chartier (202) 720-8998 VENEMAN ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF UP TO 5 MILLION POUNDS OF FIGS WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that USDA plans to purchase up to 5 million pounds of dried whole figs to be donated to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. "This purchase will provide our federal food program recipients with nutritious products," said Veneman. In fiscal year 2004, which ended Sept. 30, USDA purchased 4.8 million pounds of figs. USDA purchased nearly 3.7 million pounds of figs in FY 2003 and 8.8 million pounds of figs in FY 2001. 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.
