U.S. DRY BEANS ARE BACK IN FOOD AID

Programmed Commodities for McGovern Dole School Feeding Programs

After many years of negligible tonnage of U.S. dry beans in U.S. Government food assistance programs, six of eight new McGovern Dole School Feeding grants for 2023 (Food For Education) include dry beans. USDA announced the new school feeding grants last week at a Food Aid Shelf Life and Packaging meeting in Houston, TX. Five different kinds of dry beans will go to The Gambia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritania, Tanzania, and Timor Leste to feed and nourish school children. USDBC’s food aid staff and Committee have spent the last years talking to implementing agencies (PVOS/WFP), and U.S. government agencies to provide information on U.S. dry bean appropriateness for global hunger and nutritional needs. It is a source of tremendous pride for U.S. dry bean growers and exporters to provide life-saving nutrition to vulnerable people around the world. We are hopeful we will see more dry beans going into other U.S. government feeding programs as well.