USDA reliance on one food distributor causes food shortages in tribal and senior populations

Low-income seniors and tribal populations in eight states faced food shortages when a distributor contracted by the Agriculture Department failed to make its deliveries.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Politico that the department made mistakes when it chose just one distributor to make deliveries for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

“We’re learning that our system was flawed, and mistakes were made,” Vilsack said this week. “It’s caused a lot of stress and a lot of difficulty, and we’re trying to mitigate the consequences of that stress and difficulty as best we can.”

From 2007 to 2022, Paris Brothers and Americold were the two distributors for both the FDPIR and CSFP, but in 2022, the USDA had a new bidding process for its contract. Paris Brothers was the only bid that met the requirements for the contract, and Vilsack praised its record.

However, Paris Brothers began to miss and delay deliveries, creating food shortages and causing tribal leaders to spend their own funds to meet the needs.

The USDA has not indicated that it will reimburse the tribes for its previous purchases. However, it has authorized tribes to use funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to make purchases for the next few months.

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Vilsack said the department should have done better in managing the switch to one contractor in distributing the food needs of both programs, which serve 770,000 people nationwide. The food shortages are expected to get worse over the next several months.

In dealing with the food shortages, the department will bring Americold back for a six-month contract. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will also aid in food delivery, and representatives from the Defense Department will also come in to assist.