WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revealing collaborations for a brand-new, interagency pilot task targeted at using more localized ground bison meat for tribal neighborhoods through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The pilot will take a look at modifications to how USDA purchases bison to much better assistance purchasing the meat from regional, little, and mid-sized bison herd supervisors and providing it straight to their regional tribal neighborhoods. Today’s statement was made by USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt, Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Paul Kiecker, USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson, and a local agent from USDA Food and Nutrition Service, who met principals from the 3 tribal countries taking part in the pilot, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, their herd supervisors, and regional manufacturer Dakota Pure Bison.
These regional purchases will decrease the time and range the meat takes a trip to the customer, increase financial advancement market chances for tribal and regional bison operations, and supply high quality, healthy foods for nutrition help programs.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which collaborates food purchases on behalf of USDA; the Food and Nutrition Service, which administers FDPIR; the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the USDA Office of Tribal Relations are collaborating to bring this brand-new chance to tribal neighborhoods.
“USDA acknowledges the function its buying power can play in offering gain access to for smaller sized, regional, and tribal pr