We regularly collect information about the school meal programs and how they operate from the people who know best – the state agencies that oversee the programs in each state and territory and the school food authorities that manage the programs locally in one or more schools.
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.
Check out this database to access vendor-specific product information for all direct delivered USDA Foods for the National School Lunch Program.
List of NPA approved processors for USDA Foods in Schools by school year.
The average material prices are listed by school year and used by processors participating in the USDA Foods processing program.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted school meal operations and has contributed to lasting supply chain issues affecting the cost and availability of food and labor. The School Food Authority Survey II on Supply Chain Disruption and Student Participation was administered to all SFAs operating child nutrition programs in schools to gather information on the impacts of continued supply chain disruptions and the return to standard operations during SY 2022–23.
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.
This webinar provided state agencies and school districts instructions on how to navigate the USDA Foods Database to access vendor-specific product information, including nutrients, allergens, ingredients and certifications.
This webinar provided an overview of the USDA Foods Processing program and shared some tips on how to effectively manage USDA Foods diverted to processors.
Form FNS-7 "Destination Data for Delivery of Donated Foods" is to be used for reporting in conjunction with FNS Instruction 709-5.