Costa announces USDA purchases of bulk butter, fluid milk, and grapes to help stabilize markets

(FRESNO) – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) made the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture announcement that they would make agriculture commodity purchases under their Section 32 authority:

"The purchases announced today are welcome relief for California's dairies and farmers", said Costa "I am glad the U.S. Department of Agriculture responded to my call to make these purchases. This is especially important to the dairy industry, which is coping with extreme price swings, and California's grape industry. These purchases will help to bring some stability to a market that has been turned upside down by this pandemic."

As part of USDA's Section 32 commodity purchasing authority, USDA has agreed to purchase the following commodities for distribution to various domestic food nutrition assistance programs.
Up to:

• $50 million for Butter
• $60 million for Fluid Milk
• $30 million for Grapes (Fresh)
• $10 million for Pinto Beans
• $17 million for Bison Products
• $5 million for Black Beans
  
  
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