Government Assists Poultry Industry
$40 million bulk purchase of poultry products aims to keep producers in business
The nation's chicken industry is having a difficult year. Chicken producers are struggling with higher costs of running their business at the same time that consumers are buying less meat, creating a glut of chicken products in the market.
Total chicken production in the first half of 2011 rose 4% compared to the same period a year ago, according to the National Chicken Council. Meanwhile, the demand for chicken and retail prices for chicken products have dropped.
As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will make a special purchase of up to $40 million of chicken products, which the government will then donate to federal food assistance programs such as soup kitchens and its national Feeding America programs.
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