The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) successfully purchased 183,7000 metric tons (MT) (nearly 6.75 million bushels) of U.S. hard red winter (HRW) wheat in mid-January, marking the first purchases of U.S. wheat under the 2025 fiscal year awards under the Food for Progress program. The purchases will be delivered in four cargoes: three loaded in Houston, Texas, and one from Kalama, Washington, for destinations in Ethiopia and Kenya.
“For the U.S. wheat farmer, food aid is more than a donation—it is an investment in global stability and market access,” said Dalton Henry, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) vice president of policy and communications. “Through the Food for Progress program, we see our wheat help support important agricultural projects in developing markets while also providing an opportunity to introduce U.S. wheat to our customers of tomorrow.”
Under the Food for Progress program, donations of wheat are monetized by selling in-kind donations of U.S. food commodities in recipient countries. Through monetization, the United States provides food commodities, like wheat, to a cooperating sponsor, a recipient government or a non-governmental organization. The recipient then can sell that commodity to local processors or traders, and the proceeds can be used for developmental projects.
Wheat Key Commodity in Food Aid Programs
Wheat is often the largest commodity used in Food for Progress programs, leading to successful outcomes for U.S. farmers. In 2025, commercial sales of U.S. wheat to Colombia, following a successful monetization project, demonstrated the program’s effectiveness in achieving its dual aims of providing humanitarian assistance and expanding market access for U.S. producers.
The 2025 Food for Progress projects were awarded to the international firms Global Communities, Research Triangle Institute and Counterpart International. Each will use the monetized wheat to support projects within Ethiopia and Kenya. In turn, the sale of monetized wheat provides USW with an opportunity to demonstrate the quality and versatility of U.S. wheat classes. USW will work with recipients who purchase the wheat shipments to provide marketing and technical assistance, expanding on existing work in both countries.
“We appreciate the USDA staff and leadership who worked through regular order this year to bring these Food for Progress awards to realized purchases of U.S. wheat,” Henry said. “USDA’s successful administration of this program highlights the effectiveness of their leadership. In turn, USW remains dedicated to supporting USDA-led food assistance programs and helping find ways to increase collaboration between our regional staff, development partners and international customers.”
Learn more:
- FY 2025 Food for Progress Awards Announcement
- USW Commends USDA for Food for Progress Awards, Highlighting Wheat’s Role in Global Development
- Commercial Wheat Cargoes Land in Colombia Following Successful Food for Progress Monetization Project