The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designed two types of discounted “stamps” that could be exchanged for food: blue stamps to be exchanged for surplus staples such as butter, eggs, grain, produce, and meat, and orange stamps to be exchanged for any foods of the same monetary value. Program participants were required to purchase orange stamps, and then received half as many blue stamps for free. The surplus goods eligible for purchase shifted depending on which sectors were in need of support. Grocers would then submit the stamps to USDA — or later participating banks — for reimbursement.