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BRONX, N.Y. — Among the more than 30 firms at Hunts Point Produce Market, there’s always extra food for people who can’t afford it.

Hopes were running high among fresh produce foodservice distributors, food banks and other nonprofit groups that may benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families food box program.

Help is on the way.

As promised, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its solicitation for proposals for the Buy Fresh Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program.

With $2.7 billion targeted to the fruit and vegetable industry, the $19 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program was unveiled by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on April 17.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a web seminar on April 21 to explain details of its “Buy Fresh” program funded through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and the United Fresh Produce Association will partner on an April 23 web seminar discussing details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Purchase and Distribution Program.

Leonardo’s Produce, Detroit, has joined the FreshEdge group of produce and specialty food companies.

You had to crawl out of your comfort zone — if you hadn’t already — to make it as a fruit or vegetable grower in 2020 and going into 2021.

A new PhilaPort distribution center will add more than 200,000 square feet of flexible, food-grade storage within one mile of the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal.