On Dec. 20, 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 was signed into law. Section 4102 of the Farm Bill changes CSFP certification requirements outlined in 7 CFR 247.16 effective immediately.
Under the statutory authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA is administering a Trade Mitigation Food Purchase and Distribution Program to purchase up to $1.2 billion in USDA Foods. The bulk of this food is being distributed through TEFAP, which is USDA’s primary outlet for foods purchased through market support mechanisms.
In order to update and streamline policy guidance for the USDA Foods Processing Program, FNS is cancelling policy memoranda FD-009, FD-025, FD-130, FD-102, FD-030, FD-038, FD-048, FD-103, and FD-108. The guidance provided by these memoranda is outdated and has been superseded by the Final Rule: Revisions and Clarifications in Requirements for the Processing of Donated Foods, which was published on May 1, 2018.
FNS is making significant revisions to the CSFP food package which state agencies are expected to implement on Nov. 1, 2019. FNS is releasing the updated Distribution Rates at this time to allow CSFP state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations sufficient time to consult with local agencies and plan their ordering accordingly to ensure smooth implementation of the enhanced food package.
This memorandum transmits the 2019 Income Guidelines for state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations in determining the eligibility of individuals applying to participate in CSFP.