Release No. 0077.04

George Chartier (202) 720-8998
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

Veneman Announces Purchase of Up to 3 Million Pounds of Dried Cherries

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2004 Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced plans to purchase up to 3 million pounds of dried red tart cherries for donation to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. The dried cherries are used by recipients for baking, as toppings on foods such as cereal and mixed with other products.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products every year for distribution by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service to the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Nutrition Program for the Elderly, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. USDA also makes emergency purchases of commodities for distribution to victims of natural disasters. 

More information on USDA programs is available at www.usda.gov .

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