California ranks tops among all states in USDA fruit purchases and second in vegetable purchases, according to a new report from the USDA.
The report, revealing state of origin for USDA foods purchased in the fiscal year 2020, looked at USDA commodity purchases by the state for the period from October 2019 through September 2020 using “regularly appropriated” funds.
The report said that, while additional funds were made available in the fiscal year 2020 through COVID-19 relief bills, Section 32 bonus purchases, and the Food Purchase and Distribution Program, the analysis only reflects routine program purchases.
One important caveat, the USDA said, was that the state of origin identified indicates where the product was packed but may not identify where the product was grown or raised.
The USDA uses food commodities purchased to distribute to school lunch programs, food banks, emergency feeding organizations, tribal organizations and other groups.
In the fiscal year 2020, the report said USDA purchased nearly 1.8 billion pounds of food, at a cost of nearly $1.9 billion. The food purchased by USDA included minimally processed food products such as ground beef, frozen carrots and fresh apples; products used in further processed foods such as whole chicken and flour; and ready-to-eat food products such as cereal, peanut butter and cheese.
USDA foods purchased through the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program are not included in this analysis, the report said. Highlights of the report were:
- Fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables accounted for over half (52.1%) of the total pounds of USDA foods purchased in the fiscal year 2020;
- Protein foods represented 25% of USDA foods purchased. The remaining 22.9% of pounds purchased were represented by dairy, grains and oils combined;
- USDA foods were not purchased from 10 states or U.S. territories (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands or Wyoming);
- The five states with the highest dollar value of USDA foods in the fiscal year 2020 were California, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan;
- In the fiscal year 2020, 61% of the total value of USDA foods purchased were used in child nutrition programs, while other food and nutrition programs accounted for just 39% of the total value;
- Protein foods, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds used in child nutrition programs, accounted for the largest share (29.6%) of USDA food pounds;
- Vegetables and fruits represented the second-and third-largest shares of USDA food pounds purchased, together accounting for over half (53.8%) of USDA foods purchased for use in child nutrition programs.
Top states for USDA vegetable food purchases in fiscal year 2020, according to the report, were:
- Michigan: $31.1 million;
- California; $30.6 million;
- Wisconsin: $25.9 million;
- Maine: $16.4 million;
- Idaho: $13 million;
- Pennsylvania: $12.4 million; and
- North Carolina: $8.8 million.
Top states for USDA fruit purchases in fiscal year 2020, according to the report:
- California: $204.3 million;
- Michigan: $67.9 million;
- Washington: $22.4 million;
- South Carolina: $10.6 million;
- New Jersey: $10.1 million;
- Arizona: $5.4 million; and
- Pennsylvania: $4.1 million.
