Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resource | Newsletters USDA Foods e-Letters

USDA Foods from Farm to Plate e-letters feature resources, news, and best practices, rotating our monthly focus between a trio of program-specific e-letters.

11/07/2023
Resource | Toolkits USDA Foods Toolkit for Child Nutrition Programs

The USDA Foods Toolkit is a collection of valuable resources to assist child nutrition professionals in effectively using their USDA Food entitlement and to help them educate students, staff, and the community about the healthy contributions that USDA Foods provide to their meal programs.

10/20/2023
Resource | Fact Sheets USDA Foods: A Resource for Maximizing Food Budgets To Buy Local

This factsheet explains how USDA Foods support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the school meal pattern requirements to make it easier for schools to prepare healthy meals using local foods.

907
03/06/2023
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0073 FD-40: Inventory Draw Down in USDA Foods Processing (Revised)

This memorandum provides clarification on the value pass through methods available under 7 CFR 250.36 and on the timing of processor inventory reductions of USDA Foods under each system.

FD-40: Processing
07/16/2021
Resource | Success Stories USDA Foods in Schools Photo Contest

Each year we ask child nutrition professionals to inspire other foodservice professionals and submit a picture of your most creative meal utilizing USDA Foods.  With more than 200 USDA Foods items available, we want to highlight each food group and the innovative ways in which they can be used.

06/25/2021
Resource | Recipes USDA Foods in Schools Additional Resources

A compilation of resources for operators of USDA Foods in Schools and child nutrition programs.  

06/17/2021
Resource | Webinars/Videos COVID-19 Guidance for Managing USDA Foods Inventories in SY 2020-2021

This webinar provides guidance on flexibilities available to help you manage USDA Foods in Schools during these unprecedented times due to COVID-19. Topics include information on USDA Foods direct delivered products, USDA Department of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the National Processing Program. We cover some actions you can take to assist with utilization of USDA Foods inventories and minimize food loss. This webinar is intended for state distributing agency and FNS regional office staff who manage USDA Foods in Schools programs.

09/11/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2019-0029 Management of Donated Food Inventories at Processors

This memorandum addresses inventory limitations and requirements that USDA Foods processors must follow when manufacturing processed end products for use in child nutrition programs.

FD-064
04/02/2019
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2017-0064 Donated Food Storage, Distribution, and Product Dating

This memorandum is meant to provide clarification and guidance on policies and procedures for donated food storage and distribution as they relate to product dating.

FD-107
11/21/2017
Resource | Webinars/Videos Demystifying the USDA Foods Complaints Process Part 3: Results and Resolution

This webinar is Part 3 of our webinar series “Demystifying USDA Food Complaints.” It focuses on results and resolution in the USDA Foods complaint process for USDA Foods in schools. The USDA Foods Complaint Team, as represented by Tony Wilkins, presents different scenarios as USDA Foods are transported from the vendor to their final destination, school kitchens. The intended audience is individuals involved with the National School Lunch Program: SFAs and all distributing agencies and recipient agencies, including SDAs as well as schools and warehouses.

09/28/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021