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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 | Policy Memos WIC Policy Memo #2023-6: Streamlining Certification Documentation Guidance

This policy memorandum provides guidance to improve outreach and streamline certification in WIC. It outlines current flexibilities and new policy for certification documentation options and aims to reduce WIC staff and participant burden.

05/19/2023
Resource | Policy WIC Policy Memorandum #2023-5: Data Sharing to Improve Outreach and Streamline Certification in WIC

This policy memorandum provides guidance on data sharing activities that support targeted outreach and streamlined certification processes aimed at increasing WIC participation and retention. It expresses USDA FNS support of data sharing, provides an overview of data sharing relevant to WIC, summarizes WIC program guidance on sharing confidential WIC participant data, and lays the groundwork for future guidance and resources to help WIC state agencies expand outreach and streamline the
certification process.

04/25/2023
Resource | Policy FD-152: Discontinuance of the High Security Seal Requirement for USDA Foods Deliveries

This general USDA Foods guidance explains that the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

04/05/2023
Resource | Policy Memos TEFAP Flexibilities for State Agencies

During an emergency situation such as the COVID-19 public health emergency, there are flexibilities available to TEFAP state agencies to assist them in continuing to provide food to people in need. Implementing TEFAP flexibilities can be achieved simply by submitting a written explanation (i.e., state plan amendment) to the FNS regional office for expedited review and approval.

03/31/2020
Resource | Guidance Documents Questions and Answers about Disaster Policies and Procedures Revised

This USDA Foods in disasters guidance memorandum consolidates and clarifies select disaster/emergency policies and procedures applicable to the CSFP, the FDPIR and TEFAP.

12/09/2016
Resource | Policy Value of USDA Donated Foods for Audits: Revised

The purpose of this audit guidance policy memorandum is to clarify the options available to state distributing agencies or recipient agencies in assigning value to USDA donated foods for audit purposes.

12/02/2016
Resource | Policy Memos TEFAP: Allocation of Disaster Supplemental Appropriations

On Jan. 29, 201 3, President Barack Obama signed the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act 2013, providing TEFAP with $6 million in supplemental funding. The Act gives the Secretary authority to provide these funds to the States affected by Hurricane Sandy without regard to the formula normally used to allocate TEFAP entitlement foods and administrative funding among the States. In addition, the Act also gives the Secretary authority to provide the supplemental funding as USDA Foods, administrative funds, or both. 

02/28/2013
Resource | Policy Memos Consolidation of Reporting Requirements and Replacement of Donated Foods in Disasters, Emergencies, and Situations of Distress

This policy memorandum consolidates requirements for the SDA when reporting the distribution of donated foods, and when requesting the replacement of such foods, in disasters, emergencies and situations of distress. 

08/05/2010
Resource | Policy Continuation of USDA Food Assistance During a Human Pandemic (Revised)

This USDA Foods in disasters guidance policy memorandum is the result of activities undertaken to plan a government-wide response to a potential human pandemic and addresses the operation of its USDA food programs during a major pandemic event. 

08/31/2009
Page updated: October 14, 2021