By Jamie Martin
For almost a century, federal nutrition policies have connected American agriculture with public feeding programs. These policies ensure that taxpayer dollars support US-grown foods and provide steady markets for farmers across the country. By linking nutrition programs with domestic sourcing, the government helps reinforce rural economies and food security at the same time.
The tradition began with the Buy American Act of 1933, which encouraged federal agencies to choose domestic products whenever possible. Later, the Berry Amendment of 1941 strengthened this requirement for the Department of Defense. After World War II, the National School Lunch Act formally connected child nutrition with support for US agriculture, establishing long-term demand for American-grown products.
In recent years, federal spending on US-grown foods has remained significant. In fiscal year 2025, the government bought approximately $6.9 billion in American agricultural products. USDA purchases represented more than half of this total, with the Department of Defense and other agencies supplying hospitals, food aid programs, correctional facilities and emergency operations.
Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and dairy make up the largest share of these purchases. Although these totals represent a small part of national food spending, they provide consistent markets that help stabilize prices for producers.
School nutrition programs remain central to domestic food preference. The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program serve nearly 30 million students daily and are required to use US-grown foods whenever practical. However, the definition of “domestic” still allows almost half of a product’s ingredients to come from foreign sources. USDA’s updated rule will reduce non-domestic purchases to 10% by 2025–2026 and gradually to 5% by 2031, improving transparency and reinforcing demand for American food.
Other programs, such as USDA Foods and the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, expand access to US-grown produce and support local farmers. Additional tools, including bonus buys through Section 32, help balance markets during periods of oversupply.
While the system already benefits American producers, further improvements in tracking, documentation and enforcement can increase the impact of these programs. Strengthening oversight ensures that more federal dollars support US farms, rural communities and national food security.
Photo Credit: pexels-greta-hoffman
Categories: National