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Resource | Guidance Documents Harvest to Hallways - Resources for Procuring Local Foods in School Year 2026-2027

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any U.S. Department of Agriculture 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 various resources available to help child nutrition program operators procure local foods. 

08/24/2026
Resource | Training and Outreach Industry Guide to Publishing K-12 Product Data to USDA Databases

This webinar introduces and describes the purposes of the two USDA databases available for K-12 product manufacturers to publish their product data: Child Nutrition Database and the USDA Foods Database.

03/26/2025
Resource | Webinars/Videos State Agency Geographic Preference Webinar

This is a recording of the June 20, 2024 webinar on the expanded geographic preference option for state agencies.

07/05/2024
Resource | Webinars/Videos Partners Geographic Preference Webinar

This is a recording of the June 13, 2024 webinar on the expanded geographic preference option for partner organizations.

07/05/2024
Resource | Policy Geographic Preference Option Questions and Answers Memo

Geographic Preference Option Questions and Answers

07/03/2024
Resource | Policy Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 DGAs

This memorandum provides a detailed explanation of the expanded geographic preference option. 

05/22/2024
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
Resource | Technical Assistance USDA Foods Decision Tree

Decision tree to help determine how to get your product considered for USDA Food distribution programs.

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 Process to Update the USDA Foods Available List

This page outlines the eight-step process for adding new foods to the USDA Foods available list.

04/10/2024
Page updated: June 02, 2026