USDA Food Boxes Contain Food From Across The Country

USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program has been helpful to producers in states like Mississippi.

"Our boxes contain sweet potatoes from Ponotoc, MS,  from Fury Eagles and NW Farms, chicken nuggets from Cook Foods in Morton, MS, ham and smoked sausage from Poke’s Meat in McGee, MS, and  Cook chicken strips from southern New Hands in Mosell MS," noted Andy Mercier from local partner, Merchant s FoodService.

"They also include products from Florida, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee," Mercier continued. "So, we’re excited to be helping people across that nation, and not just Mississippi farmers."

Meanwhile, Agricultural Marketing Administrator, Bruce Summers, said the program is just getting started.

"And we’re really committed to running this program in a way that’s cost efficient, effective, and timely. And also in a way that we ensure that food safety principles are maintained. We’ve got to make sure it’s 100% U.S. domestic product going in to these boxes."

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