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Resource | Policy Using Federal Funds to Purchase Local Foods

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any USDA Child Nutrition Program, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program for Children , Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option , of the many ways they can purchase local foods to serve in program meals.

05/06/2025
Resource | Technical Assistance Disaster Assistance Factsheet

FNS plays a vital role in providing supplemental nutrition assistance when disasters occur by coordinating with states, territories, Tribes, and local voluntary organizations.

01/13/2025
Resource | Research and Data FY 2021-2023 Report to Congress on Reducing Barriers to Food Access

This Report to Congress from USDA responds to a requirement established by the 2018 Farm Bill to address requirements to coordinate efforts within USDA to reduce barriers to food access. USDA has identified FNS as the Food Access Liaison to coordinate efforts and annually respond to this request. The report describes activities that occurred from October 2020 through September 2023 to reduce barriers to food access given the last such annual report submitted in March 2021 covered fiscal year 2020

11/12/2024
Resource | Policy Final Rule - Food Distribution Programs

This final rule revises regulations for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and USDA Foods disaster response regulations. This final rule makes improvements in USDA’s food distribution programs.

10/31/2024
Basic page FDPIR and CSFP Supply Chain Disruptions

Overview of funding and tools to address supply chain disruptions to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and Commodity Supplemental Food Program. 

08/09/2024
Basic page USDA Foods by Program

Learn more about the nutritious, 100% American grown USDA Foods that are designed to meet the needs of the specific population each program serves.

04/10/2024
Basic page USDA Foods Minimum Criteria

USDA foods are required to meet a minimum criteria to be considered for purchase.

04/10/2024
Basic page Culturally and Religiously Inclusive Foods Offered in FNS Programs

To improve nutrition security, FNS works to ensure all communities have access to foods that support health and well-being. Our goal is to ensure program participants have access to culturally and religiously inclusive foods and that program operators have resources to serve culturally and religiously diverse communities.

04/05/2024
Resource | Research and Data | Demonstrations Evaluation of the USDA Summer EBT Demonstrations: Lessons Learned From More Than a Decade of Research

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) as a permanent federal food assistance entitlement program beginning in summer 2024. Summer EBT has been tested through evaluations of demonstration projects since 2011. With pending implementation of this new program, this is an appropriate time to reflect on what USDA, FNS research has learned through more than a decade of study.

03/12/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance WBSCM References

References for user roles, status codes, material codes and reports, and business partners and relationships are provided to understand how WBSCM data connects with business operations.

11/03/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021