A Taste of Wellness for Savoury and Snacks
Givaudan
The government-owned commodities, which include corn, soybeans and wheat, were acquired through forfeiture under the Marketing Assistance Loan Program, said USDA.
According to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, if additional commodities are forfeited, they could be distributed through the same process.
"This is a win for all parties, especially low-income, needy people in this country and around the world who receive US food assistance," said Johanns.
"Bartering government-owned corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat for processed products like vegetable oil and flour as well as meat products, will help us meet an increasing demand for food assistance."
USDA said in a statement last week that domestic food assistance programs will receive 80 percent of the value of the commodities that are stored by the agency.
The barter initiative is expected to provide additional commodities to food banks and other entities to help meet food assistance needs.
The remainder will be used in the agency's Child Nutrition Program and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program, which is designed to provide education, child development and food security to children in developing countries.
It provides for donations of US agricultural products, as well as financial and technical assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects in these countries.
USDA said it will begin exchanging the government-owned commodities for further processed products in the next few weeks. Product delivery to US food assistance recipients is expected to start in the fall.