Work in Wisconsin supports local farmers and creates jobs while feeding families worldwide.
Riley Didion, Chief Executive Officer of Didion, participated in USDA roundtables and met with Congressman Tracy Mann (Kansas 1st congressional district) alongside the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) last week in Washington, D.C. to emphasize how the Food for Peace Program strengthens rural American communities, especially farmers, millers, railroads, and other supply chain companies.
“The Food for Peace Program is more than a policy; it’s a lifeline that connects American agriculture to families in need around the world. By keeping this program strong and aligned with USDA, we ensure efficiency, accountability, and the continued support of rural communities,” said Riley Didion.
As a proud NAMA member and a long‑standing partner to U.S. food‑aid programs, Didion has produced millions of nutritious meals for people facing food insecurity.
While Food for Peace delivers life-saving meals abroad, its success starts in rural America—and right here in Wisconsin. Didion partners with more than 500 local farmers and purchases approximately 27 million bushels of Wisconsin-grown corn annually.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking over Food for Peace, the U.S. international food aid program, after the signing of an interagency agreement with the Department of State and Office of Management and Budget.
“USDA’s understanding of our agricultural markets is unmatched, and takeover of the program would increase efficiency, better steward taxpayer dollars, and keep more people fed around the world,” said Congressman Tracy Mann in a recent social media post. Rep. Mann championed H.R. 1207 to move Food for Peace to USDA.
The recent conversations with Congressman Mann and USDA highlighted the program’s national economic ripple effects—from the field to the port—supporting millions of American jobs across the supply chain and ensuring aid is tangible and traceable.
Food insecurity is not just a humanitarian issue, it drives conflict, displacement, and instability. By reducing hunger, programs like Food for Peace help prevent crises that can lead to mass migration and geopolitical tension.
About Didion
Didion, Inc. is a family-owned food solutions company that has produced high-quality corn ingredients for nearly 55 years. Operating North America’s most advanced dry corn milling and bioscience facility in Cambria, Wisconsin, Didion manufactures a range of products including corn meal, grits, flour, and ethanol. The company sources corn directly from over 500 local farm producers and partners with leading food manufacturers. Didion is committed to supporting agriculture, feeding the world, and fueling innovation through cutting-edge technology and community-driven values.
