Latest News From USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking to source more than 1.2 million fresh produce boxes for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA is seeking comments on an effort to improve and reimagine the supply chains for the production, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the termination of 10 U.S. consumer standards that are obsolete and impede the effective marketing of specialty crops.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking to buy as much as 485,000 cartons of domestic grapes for the school lunch program and other federal food and nutrition assistance programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has announced $169.9 million in funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced plans to purchase fresh produce for distribution to food banks.

The USDA today announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture now provides state estimates of fresh fruit and vegetable exports.

Catch up quick on the news of the week with this latest episode of Packer Insight. Watch for the recap, and then get more details on each of the following topics at the links below.

An increase in apple and orange prices spurred retail fresh produce inflation in February, new government statistics show.

The USDA is warning vendors who wish to participate in USDA food purchase programs of a possible phishing scheme that uses emails portraying Agricultural Marketing Service solicitations for bids.

March is National Nutrition Month. This year it is doubly special as we also recognize the UN International Year of Fruit and Vegetables.

With no drama and big support from both parties, Tom Vilsack is again the U.S. Agriculture Secretary, this time for President Joe Biden.

Organic sales have risen 31%, and the number of organic farms has increased 17% between 2008 and 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

With fruit and vegetable receipts predicted to dip between 6% and 10%, total U.S. farm income will drop by 8.1% in 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is inviting bids from domestic marketers of fresh apples and pears to supply federal nutrition programs.

Tom Vilsack will easily be confirmed as the Agriculture Secretary by the full Senate by Feb. 4 after the Senate Agriculture Committee gave him unanimous support on Feb. 2. 

The variety of vegetables that Americans eat has expanded in the last 20 years, according to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report.

COVID-19 relief, climate change legislation and nutrition programs are top priorities for Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., incoming chairwoman of the U.S. Agriculture Committee.

Non-farm businesses may be required to get organic certification in the near future — especially operations that import or export organic produce.

The FPAA joined the Food & Agriculture Association's letter addressed to the U.S. Senate supporting Secretary of Agriculture nominee Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai.

Fresh produce retail inflation for 2020 was less than 1% and the forecast for 2021 calls for continued stability in retail prices.

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is seeking nominees to fill Regional Member and Alternate positions.

Associations representing produce joined more than 100 other agriculture groups in urging leadership of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to confirm Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary.

The USDA National Organic Program today recognized the work of ten organic certifiers with our annual "Data Quality Awards." Organic data reporting advances both market development and robust enforcement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the contracts for the fifth round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established the Pecan Promotion, Research and Information order.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of 31 individuals to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking for nominations for three grower seats on the Mushroom Council.

Seven produce industry representatives have been named to the Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.

The USDA is allocating more than $70 million for 383 projects to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, threat mitigation and to safeguard nursery production.

With the new year, all products certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as organic can be marketed as such in the United Kingdom, and certified organic products from the UK can be marketed as organic in the U.S.

Episode 29 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Tom Stenzel, CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association, about the latest COVID-19 relief bill and the programs included that benefit the industry.

Catch up with the notable news of the week in this conversation between The Packer's editors Tom Karst, Chris Koger, Ashley Nickle and Amy Sowder.

The USDA has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the PACA.

In a pick criticized by environmental groups but supported by produce advocates, president-elect Joe Biden has reportedly chosen former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to return to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

After initial research in 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin the agency’s second-ever Local Food Marketing Practices Survey in December.

California walnut growers will soon vote on a measure that would encourage growers to promote their crop, receiving credit from the California Walnut Board for their marketing investments.

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited Nov. 16 with Jim Wiesemeyer, policy analyst with Pro Farmer about the November elections and what is ahead for agricultural policy in a Democratic administration

Florida’s citrus harvest in early November continued with navel and Hamlin oranges, red grapefruit and Fallglo and Early Pride tangerines, mostly for the fresh market, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued solicitations for fresh oranges, apples and pears.

Although legal challenges by President Trump injected uncertainty, the results of the Nov. 3 election were pointing to a victory by Democrat Joe Biden as of Nov. 5.

A new rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow expanded U.S. port access to citrus from South Africa.

Peruvian grape exports are expected to rise again in 2020-21, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA has imposed sanctions on First Fruits Holdings LLC, doing business as Four Rivers Onion Packing, (First Fruits), Wake Forest, N.C., for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

Nearly a dozen retailers are currently going through the approval and testing process for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Online Purchasing Pilot.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published the 2019 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the first California mandarin objective measurement survey.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking steps to officially dissolve the marketing order for potatoes in the state of Washington.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting that Suncrest Produce is not restricted from operating in the industry.