In September, USDA purchased 1,011,668 cartons of apples as part of another Section 32 solicitation. Throughout the spring and summer, USApple advocated for additional government purchases of U.S.-grown apples to support the market and provide fresh produce to Americans in need. We worked closely with USDA AMS, supplying data on surplus varieties and sizes to optimize the positive impact of the purchase. On August 6, AMS announced it would be purchasing 3-lb bags, 37-40 lb cartons, and 600-lb bins of apples.
We also provided advice on specifications for the first-ever USDA purchase of fresh apples to be delivered to food banks and similar destinations in 600 lb tri-wall corrugated containers. Parties outside the apple industry pushed for shipping the bins directly from the orchard and bypassing the packing house. We saw potential risk to the industry from a food safety and industry reputation standpoint, and successfully advocated for those containers to be filled after washing, inspection and grading. That purchase was for another 936,000 lbs.