USDA adds $1.3 billion in commodity funding for schools

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is providing nearly $1.3 billion to states and territories to purchase domestic foods to be distributed to schools, bringing the total amount of additional commodity support for school meals to nearly $3.8 billion since December 2021. It is part of a $2.7 billion package designed to support American farmers, students who participate in school meal programs, and emergency food operations.

In its announcement, USDA said the additional funding is needed to address elevated food and labor costs that will continue to affect school meal programs into the 2023-24 school year, when schools will lose the added, temporary financial support Congress had authorized for the 2022-23 school year in the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022.

With funding made available through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, the Department will also provide nearly $1 billion for states to order commodities from USDA vendors for emergency food providers like food banks and community kitchens as they face high demand and supply chain disruptions. The investment is part of USDA’s broader efforts to make nutritious food grown by American producers more accessible for families and students. In addition, USDA is also making available up to $400 million for grants to support domestic fertilizer production capacity and lower costs for producers.

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“American agriculture has continued to be resilient in the face of significant and unpredictable challenges,” Vilsack said. “To help ease the burden of these challenges, USDA is taking action and providing additional support for producers and food program operators. Today's comprehensive set of investments will help producers by increasing commodity purchases for schools and emergency food providers and supporting expanded domestic fertilizer capacity to lower costs. Addressing these challenges will better prepare USDA, American producers, and the customers we serve for the future.”