[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26768]


[Federal Register: October 28, 1994]


                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 208

                                           Friday, October 28, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


The Emergency Food Assistance Program and Soup Kitchens 
Availability of Commodities for Fiscal Year 1995

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces: (1) the surplus and purchased 
commodities that will be available for donation to households under the 
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); and (2) the purchased 
commodities that will be available to soup kitchens and food banks. The 
commodities made available under this notice shall be directed to needy 
persons, including unemployed and homeless persons.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip K. Cohen, Chief, Program 
Administration Branch, Food Distribution Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594 or telephone (703) 305-2662.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Need for Action

Surplus Commodities

    Donations of commodities to needy households were initiated in 1981 
as part of efforts to reduce stockpiles of government-owned 
commodities. These donations responded to concern over the costs to 
taxpayers of storing vast quantities of foods, while at the same time 
there were persons in need of food assistance. The Emergency Food 
Assistance Program was codified in Title II of Public Law 98-8, the 
Emergency Food Assistance Act (EFAA) of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 612c note). 
Surplus foods made available for distribution under the EFAA are 
limited to amounts determined by the Secretary to be in excess of the 
quantities needed to carry out other programs, including Commodity 
Credit Corporation (CCC) sales obligations and domestic food assistance 
programs. The Secretary of Agriculture anticipates that 72 million 
pounds of surplus butter will be acquired by the CCC under its price-
support activities and made available for distribution through TEFAP 
during Fiscal Year 1995. Although butter is the only surplus commodity 
expected to be available for TEFAP, the Department may offer additional 
commodities, or a different amount of butter, depending on agricultural 
production, market conditions and the distribution of donated foods to 
other domestic outlets.

Purchased Commodities

    In recent years, the supply of available surplus commodities has 
been drastically reduced. These reductions are the result of changes in 
the agricultural price-support programs which have brought supply and 
demand into better balance, and accelerated donations and sales. 
Congress responded to the reduced availability of surplus commodities 
with section 104 of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988, Public Law 100-
435, which added sections 213 and 214 to the EFAA. Those sections 
require the Secretary to annually purchase, process, and distribute 
commodities for household consumption in addition to those surplus 
commodities otherwise provided under TEFAP. In section 110 of the 
Hunger Prevention Act, Congress also requires the Secretary to 
purchase, process and distribute commodities for soup kitchens and food 
banks. USDA purchases commodities for these programs based in part on 
annual reports completed by distributing agencies.
    For Fiscal Year 1995, $25 million has been appropriated for 
purchasing, processing and distributing additional commodities for 
household use. The Department anticipates purchasing for distribution 
to households through TEFAP during Fiscal Year 1995 peanut butter, 
rice, dehydrated potatoes, and the following canned foods: green beans, 
peaches, pears and tomatoes. The amounts of each item purchased will 
depend on the prices USDA must pay, as well as the quantity of each 
item requested by the States.
    For Fiscal Year 1995, $40 million has been appropriated to 
purchase, process, and distribute commodities for further distribution 
to soup kitchens and food banks. For such outlets, the Department 
anticipates the purchase of dehydrated potatoes, frozen ground beef, 
frozen cut-up chicken, turkey roasts, and the following canned foods: 
green beans, peaches, pears, tomatoes, and beef. The amounts of each 
item purchased will depend on the prices USDA must pay.

    Dated: October 21, 1994.
Amanda Manning,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-26768 Filed 10-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U