The USDA announced a fifth round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, using funding provided by Congress in recent coronavirus relief legislation. As with the prior two rounds of purchases, eggs and egg products are eligible for inclusion in the boxes.

In describing the allowable contents of protein food boxes, USDA said: “Pre-cooked seafood products are now eligible for food box inclusion and can be aggregated with pre-cooked meat (beef, pork, chicken and turkey) products and egg or egg products.”

In contrast to previous rounds, eligible vendors this time include only “existing [Basic Ordering Agreement] holders,” which are expected to receive invitations to bid shortly, with contract awards scheduled to be made by January 19.

This means new bidders are not being accepted. However, egg producers or processors who supplied products in previous rounds of the program may want to contact the vendors they worked with at that time, who likely are still eligible.