FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of this memo is to clarify Smart Snacks standards for exempt foods that are paired together as a single snack.

During this webinar, Maggie Gosselin from USDA's Farm to School Program will discuss the different ways schools may choose to use a forward contract when purchasing local foods. We'll also hear from Megan Kemple, a practitioner in Oregon, who has successfully used forward contracts to buy local products.

During the last webinar in the twelve-part series, recorded on June 26, 2014, the USDA Farm to School Program offers a speedy recap of the variety of ways districts can purchase local foods, and talks through an example of how one district is tying it all together with a comprehensive local purchasing program. Deborah Kane, the National Director of USDA's Farm to School Program, wraps up the webinar by showing us how local procurement fits into the larger farm to school picture and shares several resources that are available to help you meet your local purchasing goals.

This memorandum is to inform you that all foods of minimal nutritional value exemptions will end on June 30, 2014. Therefore, the attached list, Exemptions Under the Competitive Foods Regulation will become obsolete on July 1, 2014. Beginning July, 1, 2014, the interim final rule for Smart Snacks in School will go into effect for school year 2014-15. Therefore, any competitive foods and beverages must meet the nutrition standards specified in the interim final rule.

On this webinar recorded on May 22, the USDA Farm to School Team turns its attention to USDA Foods. We discuss the history of the program and four ways USDA Foods can support districts in their local purchasing efforts. The Vermont Agency of Education shares how they have integrated USDA Foods into their local purchasing efforts.

This memorandum supersedes SP 25-2012, CACFP 12-2012, SFSP 10-2012, Disaster Response and provides an overview of ways state agencies, school food authorities participating can respond to situations resulting from damage or disruptions due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and flood as well as other exceptional emergency situations or man-made disasters. Allows state agencies to designate any appropriate facility, which is providing meals to displaced families who are being temporarily housed elsewhere, as a CACFP emergency shelter during a natural disaster or other emergency situation.