Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has delivered thousands of servings of food to Hurricane Florence victims in North Carolina. The department coordinated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ready and deliver USDA Foods to disaster relief sites and shelters.
USDA Foods include a variety of canned, fresh, frozen and dry products, including fruits, vegetables, meats and whole grains. The Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness delivered 180,226 pounds of USDA Foods, including:
- More than 122,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables and juice;
- Nearly 46,000 pounds of meat, poultry, fish and protein-rich foods; and
- More than 12,000 pounds of whole grains and pasta.
During an emergency, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides necessary food and water to affected areas and helps protect animals and pets. The department’s Florida Forest Service is responsible for incident management and assists emergency responders in clearing debris and distributing supplies. Additionally, the department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement provides law enforcement services to police departments and county sheriff’s offices as necessary.
For more information and tips on hurricane preparedness, visit FloridaDisaster.org.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
