ANSWERS

1. How does USDA support meal service in Schools/CN Programs?

The USDA's Schools/Child Nutrition Commodity Programs support American agricultural producers by providing cash reimbursements for meals served in schools, but also by providing nutritious, USDA-purchased food to the following nutrition programs:

• National School Lunch Program;
• Child and Adult Care Food Program; and the
• Summer Food Service Program

Donated commodities must be of domestic origin, and nearly 60 percent of the foods purchased for the Schools/ Child Nutrition Programs must be determined by the Department to be in surplus at the time of purchase.
 

2. What type of commodity support does USDA give the school lunch program?

In school year 2010, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will receive commodity foods, called "entitlement" foods, at a value of 19.50 cents for each lunch served.  Schools can also get "bonus" commodities, as they are available through USDA’s price support and surplus removal programs.

USDA does not provide an entitlement for commodity foods through the School Breakfast Program. However NSLP commodities maybe served in school breakfast.

The Food Distribution Division of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) coordinates the distribution of commodities to many of the more than 94,000 public and private nonprofit schools that provide meals to students.

While schools receive 19.50 cents worth of commodity foods per meal for school year 2010, the entitlement amount varies from year to year based on an annual adjustment to reflect changes in the Price Index of Foods Used in Schools and Institutions.  Benefits delivered in past years are listed below:

3. What type of commodity support does USDA give to Other Child Nutrition Programs?

The level of assistance for lunches and suppers served by CACFP is the same as the rate for school lunches—i.e., 19.50 cents per meal.  
 

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).  FNS distributes commodities to SFSP sites serving needy children during summer vacations from school.

These sites include schools, colleges and universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program, nonprofit summer camps for migrant children, and centers for homeless children.

For meals prepared on-site, providers receive 1.5 cents per meal in commodity entitlement.

4. What types of food are available to States for Schools/ Child Nutrition Commodity Programs?

States select a wide variety of entitlement foods for their schools, child and adult care centers, family day care centers, and summer program sites from a list of more than 180 different kinds of products.

Foods Available in SY 2010 for the Schools/ Child Nutrition Commodity Programs include fruits and vegetables; meats; cheese or dry and canned beans; fruit juices; vegetable shortening and vegetable oils; peanut products; rice, cheese, pasta product, flour and other grain products.

5. How are bonus commodities distributed to these programs? 

Bonus foods are considered those over and above entitlement foods.  They are offered periodically, but only as they become available through agricultural surpluses.  They are then offered to States on a fair-share basis, and do not count against a State’s regular entitlement dollars. 

The type and quantity of bonus commodities distributed by USDA in a given year is dictated by agricultural surpluses and market conditions.  Bonus products donated in previous years include:

6.  Who should I contact for more information about Schools/Child Nutrition Commodity Programs?

Since  these programs  are administered at the State level, we suggest that you contact your State distributing agency for more information about the commodities distributed to schools and institutions participating in these programs in your state. A list of the State Contacts may be found on our website at www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm.

You may also visit our Food Distribution Program web site at: www.fns.usda.gov/fdd, or E-mail us at: fdd-psb@fns.usda.gov. You may email your commodity complaints to us at:
CommodityComplaints@fns.usda.gov or visit our Commodity Complaint website at:
www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/complaints/.