Yesterday, during a visit to Flavor 1st Growers & Packers in River Mills, NC, President Trump, Senior Advisor Ivanka Trump and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue declared an additional $1 billion would be allocated to the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

The additional funds allow the program to extend beyond its previous October end. The announcement was met with industry approval.

“PMA applauds the commitment from the administration to extend funding to the program,” the Newark, DE-based organization said in a statement.    

“We commend the administration for taking this important step to continue this win-win-win program for farmers, distributors and families in need,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel.

The Farmers to Families Food Box Program has delivered more than 70 million boxes to more than 10,000 food banks and non-profit organizations since its inception on April 17.

As the program matures, distributors are now prioritizing resources to send boxes to Opportunity Zones and areas most in need by providing relief to America’s most underserved communities, according to the White House.

The first round of purchases totaling up to $1.2 billion occurred from May 15 through June 30. The second round will aim to purchase up to $1.47 billion July 1 through Aug. 31.