The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has placed an order for up to 20 million pounds of shrimp from Louisiana and US Gulf of Mexico shrimpers.
The federal shrimp purchase was applauded by South Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves.
In a letter, the Republican lawmaker thanked USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue for directing the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the USDA to buy the wild-caught, warmwater shrimp landed in the United States.
"This is much needed news coming from the USDA as the coronavirus continues to impact everyone across the board," Graves wrote.
"By supplying healthy US shrimp, members of the American Shrimp Processors Association can sustain their businesses in the meantime, while helping to feed those in need across the supply chain."
The government buys canned salmon and pollock for school lunch programs and other federal feeding programs.
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