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USDA to purchase US$20 million in almonds under section 32 to support food assistance programmes
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Thursday, 22 January, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Washington, USA
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to purchase up to US$20 million worth of almonds through its section 32 authority, a move aimed at strengthening domestic agricultural markets and supporting federal nutrition assistance programmes.
This planned almond purchase is part of a larger US$80 million specialty crop procurement package that also includes grape juice, pistachios, and raisins, all of which will be sourced from domestically produced and processed supplies. These commodities are intended for distribution through USDA nutrition assistance channels, including food banks and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), helping to provide nutritious food to communities in need.
The announcement was made during the 107th American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, underscoring the USDA’s ongoing commitment to supporting American growers while addressing food insecurity. The section 32 authority established under the Agriculture Act of 1935 allows the USDA to purchase surplus agricultural products and supply them to federal programmes, thereby stabilising agricultural markets and ensuring essential staples reach underserved populations.
The almond purchases will be administered by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), with distribution facilitated through the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Solicitations for the procurement are expected to be issued soon via the USDA’s Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system, with contracts set on a firm fixed-price basis and deliveries made FOB destination across various locations in the United States.
Under programme guidelines, all products must be grown, processed, and prepared within the United States, ensuring that the initiative directly benefits American producers. More details on vendor eligibility and solicitation procedures will be released by the AMS as the procurement process unfolds.
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