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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 Buy American Accommodation Process for School Year 2025-26

This memorandum provides guidance on the Buy American accommodation process. This memorandum provides the state agency the ability to approve temporary relief for school food authorities that demonstrate they cannot meet the thresholds for non-domestic food purchases for school year 2025-26.

02/20/2025
Resource | Training and Outreach Kosher and Halal Foods in Child Nutrition Programs

On Nov. 14, 2024 we held a webinar for state and local agencies administering child nutrition programs on serving halal and kosher observant students eligible for their programs.

11/14/2024
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 Q&As: Food Distribution Programs - Improving Access & Parity Final Rule

Questions and answers about Food Distribution Programs: Improving Access and Parity Final Rule published on Oct. 31, 2024.

10/30/2024
Basic page Snapshot of Regulatory Changes: Food Distribution Programs Final Rule

Summary of the provisions in the final rule and how they compare to previous program regulations. 

10/30/2024
Resource | Research and Data 2023 Farm to School Census

The 2023 Farm to School Census collected information on farm to school participation by school food authorities (SFAs) in school year 2022–23. Every SFA participating in the National School Lunch Program in the 50 states, Washington, DC, and five territories received an online survey asking about the farm to school activities they participated in, details of their participation, and their perspectives on farm to school.

10/15/2024
Resource | Training and Outreach Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 DGAs – Buy American Provisions Webinar

This webinar reviewed the Buy American provision including information related to new regulations, the recently published memo, Buy American Provisions Related to the Final Rule Titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the optional Buy American Exceptions tracker.

08/28/2024
Resource | Research and Data | Report to Congress FDPIR - Findings from the Program Access Quick Response Survey

This report responds to a Congressional directive in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Bill of 2020, tasking the USDA FNS with studying challenges facing FDPIR in reaching underserved populations, specifically homebound and elderly individuals unable to travel to FDPIR distribution locations. The report summarizes findings from a survey of FDPIR program operators about how they serve these populations, challenges encountered, and recommendations for enhancing accessibility for the homebound and elderly.

07/31/2024
Page updated: October 14, 2021