Source:  USDA, 6/15/10

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA's intention to purchase up to $14 million of dark meat chicken products for federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food banks.

"The purchase announced today will help poultry producers who are experiencing an increase in dark meat cold storage inventories and a decreasing wholesale price," said Vilsack. "These products are provided to food banks and other federal food nutrition assistance programs to offer recipients a wide variety of healthful products."

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases a variety of high-quality, nutritious food products each year to 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. USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of natural disasters.

Government food experts work to ensure that all purchased food is healthful and nutritious. Food items are normally required to be low in fat, sugar and sodium. The commodities must meet specified grade requirements and be USDA-certified to ensure quality. AMS only purchases products of 100 percent domestic origin.

For more information on purchase details, interested suppliers should contact the Contracting Officer, which can be found on AMS Web page: www.ams.usda.gov.

Follow us on Twitter to receive the latest press releases, stories, and important updates about the Agricultural Marketing Service at: twitter.com/USDA_AMS_NEWS.