# USDA announced plans for up to $156 million in food purchases for schools and food banks

> The August announcement covered eight commodity groups, including walnuts, pork products, fruit, grape juice and wild-caught shrimp for nutrition assistance programmes.

URL: https://foodradar.org/usda-announces-156-million-in-agricultural-commodity-purchases-for-school-and-food-bank-programs
Language: en
Author: FoodRadar Editorial
Published: 2026-10-19T06:00:10.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-24T22:09:24.328Z
Source publication date: 2026-08-24
Category: Investments
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## A purchase announcement for nutrition assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on 24 August 2026 that it intended to purchase up to $156 million in agricultural commodities from American farmers and producers for distribution to schools and food banks. The announcement cited USDA’s authority under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935.

## Eight commodity groups

The announced amounts were $30 million for walnuts, $27 million for pork products, $25 million each for fresh mandarins and raisins, $20 million each for Concord grape juice and wild-caught shrimp, $5 million for prunes and $4 million for canned peaches.

The notice explained that USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service purchases domestically produced and processed agricultural products for nutrition assistance. These USDA Foods go to programmes including the National School Lunch Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program, serving schools and food banks.

## Source and adaptation

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. USDA Announces $156 Million Food Purchase to Support U.S. Producers and Strengthen America’s Food Supply, 24 August 2026. Public-domain agency reporting; USDA’s policy requests appropriate attribution and excludes separately protected material. FoodRadar prepared and edited this summary.

## Sources and rights

- [USDA Announces $156 Million Food Purchase to Support U.S. Producers and Strengthen America’s Food Supply](https://www.ams.usda.gov/content/usda-announces-156-million-food-purchase-support-us-producers-and-strengthen-america%E2%80%99s-food?utm_source=foodradar.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=usda-announces-156-million-in-agricultural-commodity-purchases-for-school-and-food-bank-programs-en). U.S. Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Marketing Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Marketing Service (2026). USDA Announces $156 Million Food Purchase to Support U.S. Producers and Strengthen America’s Food Supply. Published 24 August 2026. USDA-authored text: public domain. Edited and translated by FoodRadar. PUBLIC-DOMAIN.

Adapted by FoodRadar.

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