USDA recently announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program which includes a plan to partner with regional and local distributors to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat products. Through this program, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will procure an estimated $100 million per month EACH ($300M/month total) of fresh fruits and vegetables, a variety of dairy products and meat products to provide a pre-approved box of fresh produce, dairy, and meat to food banks and other non-profits serving Americans in need. 

USDA is hosting an informational webinar today, April 21st at 2pm EST to provide an overview of this program. To register for that webinar click here.  

How can food hubs take advantage of this funding to mobilize regional value chains to support local producers and in-need communities? There are about as many questions as there are answers at this point, as USDA is working diligently to put together guidelines on the program and to publish an official RFA. In the meantime, we want to elevate your questions, concerns, and considerations on how food hubs can respond to this opportunity. Following the USDA webinar, the Wallace Center will be hosting an informal Food Hub listening session on Zoom at 4pm EST today for hubs to discuss their questions and ideas on responding to this program.  

If you are interested in participating on this call please register here. Note that for anyone who can't make it we will share out a recording and notes afterwards.