Trump promises to purchase $3 billion worth of farm goods from next week
President Trump announced that the US will begin purchasing $3 billion worth of dairy, meat and produce from farmers.
11 May 2020
1 minute read
According to Reuters, the move comes amid soaring unemployment rates and increased reliance on foodbanks and community kitchens.
"Starting early next week, at my order, the USA will be purchasing, from our Farmers, Ranchers & Specialty Crop Growers, 3 Billion Dollars worth of Dairy, Meat & Produce for Food Lines & Kitchens," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter.
It was unclear whether his statement referred to a $19 billion relief plan announced by the US Department of Agriculture in April. The agency said it would buy $3 billion worth of agricultural commodities as part of that programme.
The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
The US economy shed a staggering 20.5 million jobs in April and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent, government data showed on Friday.
Food banks have been running short on staples as hunger soars. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted supply chains, with farmers saying they have had to destroy their produce and euthanise pigs because processing facilities have shuttered.
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