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USDA Foods Decision Tree

How to Get Your Product Considered for USDA Foods

We provide foods purchased from American farmers, dairies, ranchers, and fisheries to support federal nutrition assistance programs and American agriculture. These products, known as USDA Foods, provide nutritious foods to four USDA Foods programs:

USDA Foods programs are demand driven. States, schools, and tribal organizations place orders based on the needs and preferences of the individuals they serve. USDA strives to add new foods that program participants recognize and request.  To ensure products are successful, USDA requires that any new product has demonstrated demand in a similar setting.

Use this decision tree to see if your product may be a good fit for USDA Foods programs. Learn more about how to get your product considered for USDA Foods programs, including the minimum criteria your product must meet and how to become a qualified USDA vendor.

Page updated: December 29, 2025