COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES

                                              Release No. 0056.97

                                    Johna Pierce   (202) 720-4623
                                    Darlene Barnes (703) 305-2286

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PACKAGES

     WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
announced today changes to the food packages supplied to participants in the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program.  The most significant changes to the
packages include the addition of cheese as a regular component and increases
in the number of servings of meats/meat alternates, grains/pastas, and
vegetables.

     "The Commodity Supplemental Food Program serves 365,000 low-income
Americans who are at nutritional risk," Glickman said.  "The improvements to
the food packages announced today will help reduce that risk for the needy
women, children, and elderly people that rely on the program to help put
food on their families' tables."

     "These changes are the result of a year's worth of cooperative work
between USDA's Food and Consumer Service which administers the program and
CSFP operators who distribute the food packages to the needy in cities and
towns across the country," said Glickman.  "In contemplating changes to the
packages, this group went to program customers and asked them what
improvements needed to be made.  Our customers told us, and today we are
responding."

     Glickman noted that making cheese a regular part of the CSFP packages
also will assist dairy producers who are currently going through some tough
economic times because of low prices.  Approximately 700,000 pounds of
cheese will be distributed each month under the new CSFP package profiles. 
Changes to the food packages are cost-neutral and will not increase the
overall cost of the program.

     "I am extremely concerned about the plight of our dairy farmers," said
Glickman.  "During the last few months the Clinton Administration has taken
a number of steps to help boost prices.  This is another one."

     "The local operators who distribute Commodity Supplemental Food
Program packages in their communities are the life-blood of this program,"
said Acting Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Mary
Ann Keeffe.  "Their cooperation and input into the improvements in the CSFP
package announced today reflect their genuine concern for program
participants' nutritional well-being."

     Keeffe also noted that the improvements to the food packages result in
additional servings of essential food items as recommended in USDA's Food
Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov