Staff from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Commodity Procurement Division just held a webinar hosted by the United Fresh Produce Association to clarify the Buy-Fresh portion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance (CFAP) Purchase and Distribution Program. With an amazingly fast turn-around since this program was announced, they will be posting a ‘solicitation’ on Friday, April 24, announcing the purchase of up to $3 billion of fresh foods ($100 million/month each of US-grown fresh produce, fresh dairy, and fresh meats) beginning in 2 weeks. Proposals for fresh produce will be accepted from PACA-licensed growers/shippers/distributors/co-ops who submit proposals by next Friday to put together ‘consumer wholesale boxes’ for local/regional non-profits (food banks, food pantries, churches, etc.) and schools (which may or may not include universities/colleges – to be determined) to distribute to consumers. Approved proposals will be announced a week later to be implemented immediately.
Details of the program are available on the AMS website. The size of the box and contents (there are some targeted products) are to be worked out between the distributor and the non-profit, and included in the submitted proposal. ‘Fresh produce’ also includes ‘fresh-cut produce’, and anticipated changes in seasonal content should be outlined. Non-profit recipients may work with multiple distributors, especially as there may be different groups supplying produce, dairy and meat. The actual ‘solicitation‘ will be posted on Friday, April 24. You can sign up for email updates.
New Jersey is serviced by 2 major food banks that distribute food to local pantries/feeding programs throughout the state. The Food Bank of South Jersey in Pennsauken services counties along the Delaware River from Mercer to Salem, while the rest of the state is under the umbrella of the Community Food Bank of NJ, headquartered in Newark with branches in Monmouth and Atlantic Counties. You could work with either of these larger organizations or directly with smaller community programs closer to your locale. You might also propose working with PhilAbundance, the major food bank servicing Philadelphia.
