General Discussion

The government has always purchased a wide variety of agricultural products from U.S. farmers, for a whole array of purposes, from feeding the military to stabilizing agricultural prices (to support farmers) to retaining stocks of key foodstuffs for disaster remediation.

In addition to those, over the years surplus food has been part of school lunch programs, foreign aid programs, and direct distribution to low-income Americans via several different programs and processes.

The system worked surprisingly well to meet its major goals of stabilizing ag prices and having key stocks available and usable. The "usable" issue provided the impetus for creating programs where food with shorter-term stock limits could be readily distributed while still in good condition for use and consumption.

It was quite an effective, efficient system, well-conceptualized, constantly improved, and well-maintained. It benefited not just millions of individual Americans and families through agricultural price support and direct distributions, but other institutions such as schools, the military, US AID, etc., creating a highly cost-effective synergy.

All hosed now, of course.

Dumb fuckers.

wearily,
Bright