| DATE: | August 16, 2021 | |
| SUBJECT: | The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) Adjustment of TEFAP Funding | |
| TO: | Regional Directors Special Nutrition Programs MARO, MPRO, MWRO, NERO, SERO, SWRO and WRO | State Directors All TEFAP State Agencies |
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (PL 115–334, the 2018 Farm Bill) required USDA to re-evaluate the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) by 2022 and every 5 years thereafter based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance. By law, the June TFP is the basis for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) entitlement food funding formula for the upcoming fiscal year. Typically, FNS releases a memo with the annual TEFAP entitlement food and administrative funding soon after a full year appropriation is enacted by Congress. The funding announced in that memo will reflect any changes in food funding amount due to a change in TFP.
Based on USDA’s re-evaluation, the TFP is increasing by 21% and total national FY 2022 TEFAP entitlement food funding will increase by an estimated $57.75 million. We will be sharing additional details and final numbers after the budget is finalized. Funding amounts that have already been allocated to state agencies and available in FY 2022 will not be affected.
Please share this information with your state agencies.
Laura Castro
Director
Food Distribution Division