Hello DeSoto and Sarasota County Producers!

I have two very timely pieces of information for you today and here they are:

1. Contact information for the Publix employee organizing direct purchasing from producers:
   • Curt Epperson: Curt.epperson@publix.com
   • I have attached the press release again that I emailed you all yesterday about Publix’s plans to purchase direct from Florida producers for donations to food banks.
2. Applications for the USDA Purchase and Distribution Program are being accepted!
   • This is the $3 billion federal program called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program) that I emailed you all about a couple days ago. I attached the press release again to this email.
   • Here is the website with additional information:
     • https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box
     • Here are the three parts of the application:
       • RFP – ERAcquisition (pdf)
       • RFP Attachment 1 Emergency Acquisition MSCP (pdf)
       • RFP Attachment 2 Compilation of TEFAP sites for AMS (xls)
     • This application process is complicated and very involved.
     • Contracts will be awarded for 30-day periods. If you get a contract, you can renew your contract multiple times. At the moment, this program is expected to run for about six months.
     • My understanding is that the USDA hopes to start awarding contracts in about two weeks, so this process is going to move quickly. If you are interested in this opportunity – jump on it fast.

All my best to all of you,

ATTACHMENTS

• April22_USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.pdf
• April23_Publix .pdf

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