USDA will spend $30 million on fruits of U.S. origin to support local farmers facing surplus supplies

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to buy up to $30 million in fresh fruit from domestic producers for distribution to food banks and nutrition assistance programs, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement on Monday.

The purchase, made under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, aims to support growers facing excess supply while bolstering food assistance efforts nationwide. The department said the move will help stabilize markets for certain citrus crops and direct surplus volumes to low-income households.

Rollins said the initiative is intended to assist farmers contending with market pressures, including competition from foreign suppliers, while improving access to fresh produce for communities in need.

Under the plan, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will procure $15 million in fresh oranges, $10 million in grapefruit, and $5 million in mandarins. The products will be supplied to the Food and Nutrition Service for programs such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides staples to food banks nationwide.

The USDA regularly purchases domestically produced foods under Section 32 to support agricultural markets and supplement federal nutrition programs, which the agency describes as a key component of the national food safety net.