Jun 30, 2016

USDA commits to $27.5 million purchase of cranberry concentrate

A collaborative effort between cranberry industry stakeholders, USDA officials and the Cranberry Marketing Committee has culminated in the commitment to a $27.5 million purchase of cranberry concentrate through the USDA’s Section 32 Commodity Purchase Program. USDA will purchase cranberry juice concentrate products for surplus removal.

The purchase is equivalent to 30 million pounds or 300,000 barrels of U.S.-grown cranberries. The USDA’s purchase will benefit national nutritional assistance programs and other charitable institutions, according to a press release.

The USDA’s Food Purchase Program works with farmers, who supply finished products and raw materials for USDA foods. The agency will put out procurement notices for specific products in the next few months. All offers must be submitted electronically through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) website.