USDA chief admits ‘mistakes’ as food shortages hit tribal populations, low-income seniors
“Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack acknowledged his department made ‘mistakes’ in awarding a contract to a single distributor to supply critical food aid programs, a change that has triggered food shortages among low-income populations in at least eight states. Since the contract with distributor Paris Brothers Inc. began in April, tribes have reported delayed and missed deliveries as part of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. The same issue has plagued the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves low-income seniors and food banks. That’s left some of those program partners without key food staples, and many are now warning the shortages could get much worse in the next few months.”