USDA Buys More American Lamb

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service announced on Wednesday the purchase of 108,000 pounds of lamb shoulder chops at a cost of approximately $404,000. These products will be distributed in federal food and nutrition programs.

Two vendors in this invitation period were awarded contracts. Purchases will be made from Iowa Lamb Processing Corp. out of Hawarden, Iowa, and Transhumance Inc. (Superior Farms), out of Denver, Colo.

"We welcome the timing of this purchase as this is an excellent time to boost the market for lamb shoulder meat and, therefore, lamb prices," commented Glen Fisher (Texas), American Sheep Industry Association president. "More than $1.5 million in lamb products has been purchased in four separate bids since AMS started buying lamb in September of 2009."

Additional program information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/lscp/otherredmeat/orm_purchaseinfo.htm.