January 11, 2024

USDA to buy pork products for food nutrition assistance programmes

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to purchase pork products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programmes.

Potential products will be pork loin roasts, hams and pork patties. Purchases will be made under the authority of Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, with the purpose to encourage the continued domestic consumption of these products by diverting them from the normal channels of trade and commerce.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) strongly supports the USDA's pork purchase and worked with the agency to secure the purchase. The council will continue working with the USDA to identify additional opportunities to support US pork producers during challenging market conditions.

The US pork industry faces a challenging market environment, with losses averaging US$30 a pig last year and at times exceeding US$40 to US$60 per head.

NPPC noted that the USDA AMS's Section 32 purchase can provide much-needed support to the hog and wholesale pork markets and secure affordable, nutritious pork products for USDA recipient programmes.

- National Hog Farmer