The agency said it will make monthly purchases totalling about $100 million each of fresh produce, dairy products and meat products. Perdue said USDA will work with companies like Sysco Corp to help procure, package and distribute food boxes. Long lines have formed at US food banks in recent weeks. Farmers and ranchers have struggled to get their goods to market because of disruptions caused by the pandemic, forcing some to throw out food supplies and call for government help. Direct payments will be sent “as quickly as possible” as farm commodity producers have experienced “unprecedented losses,” Perdue said.

Source: bd News24 April 18, 2020 01:41 UTC